Barcode: Cavern of Youth (31 page)

“Oh please,” the dark-skinned man appears neat and sounds easy. The two words flowed from his lips with elegance and he sits with a crown of honor. “I do not deserve such an introduction. I’m just thrilled to meet the man whose eyes will rival my own.”

“So I can open them?”

“I’ve seen them plenty. Have no fear.”

I blink a few times to help process the vivid colors surrounding me. I haven’t opened my eyes all day. Cracking them open now feels like I’m just waking up. “If you’re impressed by mine, you should see my spirit’s.”

“I have,” Ra replies quickly. “But the universe is visible through a telescope. Infinitely traveling data exists nowhere, but with you.”

“So Hades,” I say as he offers me a cigar. When I decline, he scrunches his face. I remove my last lollipop and shove it in my mouth. “I think you know a lot about what’s happening to me and I’m willing to listen now. What’s going on?”

“Are you also willing to accept that we are gods and not hosts?”

“Immortals, or all-seeing deities that watch over people and answer prayers?”

Hades holds up his massive hands, shaking them swiftly. “Oh no. I’ll accept the first one. I can hardly keep up with my own business. You can give Ra the second.”

“Then, I’m willing to believe you, but for all I care, Ra is a guy named Ramon with some awesome eyes.”

Ra’s pupils and iris are a solid red. I think he has them activated. They must be some other color when they’re not. Then again, mine are always activated, unless I’m bleeding to death.

Neither man says a word for a few seconds. Simultaneously, they break into a roaring laughter. White Beard storms into the room, interrupting their good time. If I were to guess, I’d say he hates me.

“What’s up Gramps?”

“Boy!” He stomps towards me with a solid red face, but Ra waves his finger. This guy just stopped someone three times bigger with his index.

I love Ra. I want to be Ra.

I mimic his finger movement while he smoothly threatens, “Zeus. You know better than to interrupt my conversations in this room. Now, exit calmly.”

Hades sputters, “Please don’t start another fight bro. Please. You know what happened last time you pissed off Tezcatlipoca. I can’t pay for damages like that again.” Hades snickers, “Unless you bet against Okodemah the way you did last time.”

Zeus blares, “Hades!”

“Gentlemen. I’ve waited some time to speak with this young man and I am in no mood for games. He is on a delicate path,” the small man turns to me before continuing, “and in the presence of trouble. You may remain in the room Zeus, but listen without speaking a word or I swear on your name, I will drag you to the underworld myself.”

Hades regains his composure. If Ra really is the Egyptian god, their power must be the real thing. He’s silencing the immortal White Beard.

I snap my fingers and point to everyone in the room. “Who has something they want to say to me? I’ve got trouble coming my way. Why?”

Ra turns to Hades, “May I?”

“By all means. You know way more than me. I just put my money on black and let it ride.”

“Thank you. You are Karma’s son.”

I narrow my eyes while analyzing Ra’s face. He’s serious. “Karma?”

“Essentially, yes. As her son, you have the power to further offset balance, which is what this world needs.”

“Explain.”

“Good and evil are not balanced and haven’t been since I’ve been praised. But it was Zeus that lost control of Karma.”

Zeus clutches his fist and I’m sure that somewhere in the world, children are dying because of it. His hand seems mightier than I ever imagined mine could be.

“So Gramps had Karma?”

“Yes. I passed her along when I lost my authority over the world, but it is not all his fault. My kings ruled mercilessly. They created entire systems that enslaved their people. But it was Zeus’ followers that mastered the art of enslaving minds. Once Karma lost her control, Buddha was furious.” Ra chuckles lightly. “He tried with all his might to restore her, but she wasn’t the same.”

Remembering some of the history lessons I learned from Takashi, I say, “When she was lost, the worlds broke out into more war. Not the physical kind, but the mental. People were plagued, hell bent on killing each other and not stopping the ones responsible for their sufferings.”

“Yes.”

“An example is Michelle Smith. There was a time when things that happened to her were widespread.”

“Correct. Though they are prevalent now, it was dominant in society then. But it’s during times like these that heroes rise.”

“Was it Adrenaline?”

“You recently learned of him. Yes, Kairo Bevel. He died fighting the systems set in the world and started the greatest war known to man. Because of him, people refused to be ignored and manipulated. They did more than simply fight each other; they went after governments with all their might.”

“If I’m supposed to further offset the corruption and war, isn’t that a bad thing?” Ra doesn’t respond. He shows no emotion or reaction to my words. “Are you saying I’m good or evil?”

“You tell us,” Hades charges so powerfully that I feel as though I’m back under the pressure of massive waves in the ocean.

Ra concludes, “You are an option. Spencer was as well. He chose his fate. We’ll see what you do with yours.” As he stands up, Ra hands me an ancient necklace. It has gray pearls linked by a simple looking rope. “You seem to push the others for finals, but you’ll have to fight.”

Gramps storms out of the room and the other two gods wave as they exit. I remember hearing Dennis tell my enemy/friend that he had a choice when he woke up. His was simple: the darkness or the light. Strangely, I feel as though people are actually pointing me to the darkness.

Twenty Three

Finals are only one day away, and my team is still quite pitiful. Richard isn’t speeding up any, but seems to get heavier with each passing day. Jamie won’t practice and Seth only improves when he drinks excessively. Instead of pushing them any further, we decided to take another day off. I know how much Dennis is suffering and I want to be there for him. Though he tries to hide it, his heart’s been beating irregularly all day.

Today marks the anniversary of Spencer’s death, and the potential declaration of Talib’s freedom.

“Are you really going to watch the match?” Carmen asks after I stick another lollipop into my mouth and walk up the stairs leading to Dennis’ booth.

“I can hear it anyway. Might as well see it with my own eyes.”

Dennis chose to remain in his office, but made sure to reserve the room for only me.

As I continue my stroll towards the glass window that provides an amazing view of the field, Carmen gleefully announces, “Okay. Well, I need to go get ready for tonight. I just wanted to hang out with you a little longer.”

The gorgeous girl quickly blinks and looks outside of the window as I spin around. She takes a deep breath before establishing an eye connection. Carmen’s made a conscious effort to not be afraid of my data and it’s been working. Sometimes she stares into them for no reason at all. Whatever my data does to her must be intense. I once noticed her muscles twitching involuntarily.

As I examine the massive sports room with memorabilia, and plenty of seats and television screens, I think of all the suits that have bet on some human’s death while laughing, smoking cigars, and drinking Scotch. Many are no different than Helios in their ambitions, but they all think of him as some grand evil. This red, white, and blue room is filled with the pride of a corrupt system.

Gods and demigods are treated as royalty in this world. Their lives are precious. However, mortals are deemed as “Apes” because of their primitiveness, or lack of power. That’s how I was treated all my life. An expendable Ape.

This booth represents everything I hate about Colt Arena and the gladiator system. I came here to destroy it, but lost that focus along the way. Now, I have a beautiful girl dying to get closer to me. She wants my love and affection, but my heart yearns for hatred and devastation.

“Don’t go.”

“Why not?” The often clumsy goddess is quite gifted at being seductively persuasive when she focuses. Carmen’s hips sway smoothly as she approaches me. Once she’s close enough, the beauty presses her body against mine. “You plan on finding some quality time for me, or will you keep practicing? You’re too busy for me now.”

“We’re always together and we both have work to do. How is that too busy?”

“Training isn’t the same. I want to trap you under a cover. But if you’re not going to let me do what I want to your body, at least watch a movie with me.”

“I’m watching one now.
Valentine’s Obsession
. It just started a few blocks down. Another stupid romance where the couple kisses at the end after surviving a near death experience. They both lose their parents and friends in the process, but
luckily
they have each other.”

“It’s romantic.”

“That doesn’t happen in real life. Women are always searching for some magical kiss or intimate moment. Guys want a nut. There are two opposing objectives.”

“Guys should get more romantic and change their objectives,” she asserts with an alluring tone before pushing me away. “What would you prefer? To have me speak dirty to you?” Carmen lies on the blue couch a few feet behind me and spreads her legs. In her best sex operator voice, she teases, “Come put it in, papi. Is that better?”

“What about me reminds you of a stereotypical guy? I never wanted either.”

“Can you at least tell me why you want me to stay?”

My chest burns as I release the breath stuck in my lungs. “When you go you’ll prove how worthless women are.”

“What?”

“Does that offend you? The fact is, women are worth less than my left testicle.”

“Papi!”

“You’ll play right into an oppressive stereotype when you go prance around for the bigot. He’s going to put you on display to show that even women gladiators can be controlled.”

“That’s not it.”

“The top three female warriors of the century were Amazons from Yang Arena. Beyond them, no armored vagina is respected or appreciated. Hannah Carey and Michelle Miyamoto were on their way to defying those statistics, but I helped kill one and made the other run away.”

“Angie.”

“She had potential to be the greatest gladiator of all time, without activating her barcodes, until she lost that match to Malik. I’m sure that was an intentional plan orchestrated by Vincent. The same man pulling your strings.”

I’ve pissed Carmen off properly, but she doesn’t bite. Instead, she changes the subject, “You don’t want romance or sex. What,” under her breath she adds, “
or should I say, who
do you want?”

Hating myself for sounding so corny, I mumble, “I’m perfectly fine with having someone love me for what I am.”

“I do. Now, it’s your turn to do the same.” She stands up and spins around. “I’m a horny romantic. You have to take all of it.”

Returning to my original point, I demand, “Don’t go.”

“I have to.” Carmen fights her own desires. “I need to know why you want me to stay, but I don’t want to hear it. Let me kiss you. Open your thoughts up to me again.”

“Vincent’s going to use you.” My eyes focus on her. My sight is blurry. I think my eyes are tearing up, but I don’t feel any serious emotions. I shouldn’t be this hurt. “I’ve been listening to their ideas all week.”

She shakes her head and attempts to fake a smile, but I’m clearly upsetting her. “That’s okay. Look, you stopping me from doing this is like me stopping you from going to the dungeon. We both have responsibilities for this crazy family.”

“My responsibilities hurts others. Yours is hurting your self-esteem and pride.”

“Pride is overrated.”

“That’s religious bullshit. Pride is what keeps me going.”

“And what stops you from loving me!” Her voice is heightened and blood is pumping. “You may think you’re the only person that has trouble, but you’re not. We all have problems; don’t judge me for how I handle mine. I’m sick of your accusatory eyes.”

“Interesting. I thought you hated how terrifying they were. But is that what you see in them? Accusations?”

“I’m going.” As she walks to the door, I swiftly reach for her arm and yank her towards me. “Let me go.”

“Why do you have a responsibility to be there?” Her eyes water and I snap, “Screw your tears! Answer the damn question and stop crying your problems away.”

“I have to go,” she whimpers in a pleading voice.

“What the hell are you hiding from me? Why does Vincent have so much control over you? Just admit that you know they’re going to hurt you. I need you to say it. Because if you leave, I’m not going to save you.”

“He’s my husband!” she blares through the pain radiating in her arm and the agony piercing her heart. “I’ve wanted you to save me all this time. I want
you,
papi. I don’t want some family fortune. I want you to save me. He’s my husband, and I hate him. He hates me. Angie does too because we’re the same age. He’s my husband.”

All this time, she’s been holding this back.

The judgmental looks from friends or people passing us in the skyscraper all make sense now. Everyone knew but me. The Moreno-Colt are a secret that Vincent somehow let out, and I’m the only idiot that didn’t see through it.

Releasing her arm, I calm my breath and turn back towards the window.

“Papi,” she cries sweetly. “You’re going to let me go? You have to save me. I need you.” She nearly falls, but gains the strength to approach me. “I’m sorry I kept this a secret, but—”

The force etching through my body fills my small frame. The venomous energy stirs wildly. I look over my shoulders with a determination that could kill. Carmen rushes to hold me, but is blocked as my force pushes her back. Before it completely explodes, I mutter, “Fuck off.”

The shock wave releases a blast that thrusts Carmen out of the room. She smashes into the hallway wall and blood creeps down her neck. Chairs, couches, and tables twirl in the booth until the door slams shut.

Directing my eyes and ears towards the field, I listen as Thomas announces the fight, “Are you ready people? This is the moment everyone has waited for; Talib Lion’s last match at the Colt Arena! Unfortunately for the duo of Talib and Jay Jay, their final fight will be with the Spartan gym from Berkeley, California. These savages are known for their breeding processes. I’d like to welcome: Schmidt Arena!”