Roman Gladiators ~by Brady

Running down a narrow alley, away from the Roman police, was the baker, Fabricius. He just stolen some money from a merchant. Since his family was poor and he needed the money, in his mind, it was time to take drastic measures. Finally, when the policemen were within reaching distance of the baker, a policeman lunged and took out the legs of the muscular man. He fell to the ground about 100 yards from the bakery. At that moment, the baker lost all hope. The coins scattered everywhere. He was on the ground and the police were on his back, chaining him in shackles. They lifted him up, and drug him to a cell.


Fabricius's family was at the house sitting in front of the fire, wondering where their dad was. What could he be doing? his wife Flora wondered. Julius, his son, began to worry. She walked her son to his room to put him in bed; they said their worried prayers. "Please let daddy come home," prayed Julius. She left the room with many thoughts about her husband floating in her head. Throughout the night, she sat near the fire in hopes of hearing her lost love return. Finally, resting her head on the table, Flora slowly drifted to sleep.

Early the next morning the Roman police stormed into the house, stopping where Flora was lost in sleep. She awoke with a hectic start. Many questions tried to force their way out at the same time, but all that came out was, "Who are you? Where are we? Do you have my husband?" Then Julius woke with a loud a treacherous scream. The woman knew instantly they were taking her child. The crazed woman thought of her son and grabbed the closest vase. She made a break for her son's room, snatching some knives along the way. She spotted a guard in the doorway facing the child. With rage filling her swing, she plunged the knife into the back of guards neck, sending him straight towards the ground. Entering the room, Flora smashed the vase over the guards head who was reaching for her son. Flora was in such a state of anger and fear, she was randomly was picking up objects and hurling them at the guards' heads. Finally, the guards pried the miscellaneous items from her hands and threw her to the floor. Yelling and moaning in pain, she knew she lost. She was about to lose her son as she had lost her husband.


Once they got Flora under control, the guards informed her, "Your husband is in jail for theft."
Immediately she was questioning the guards, "How is this possible? He is an honest man. There must be some mistake?" Inside she wondered, What must he have done?
Without answering her questions, the guards told the Flora she would have to offer up food and taxes for the injuries that were inflicted upon the guards.
Flora nodded. Then she grabbed her son and coat and bolted for the door. Once free from the police, Flora sprinted towards the jail facility. She ran through the market place, bumping into citizens, breaking pots, and running into stands. She was rapidly approaching the facility. Flora sprinted at the speed of wind, dragging Julius behind her. Rounding the last corner, she sped down the final straight away. She finally rushed into the door and calmly demanded to see her husband. She was let to her husband's cell. With one quick glance she knew exactly what was going on. Her husband had chosen to be a gladiator instead of face trial.

Fabricius knew what she was thinking, and it wasn't good. Sitting in a corner of the stone cell, with shackles hanging around his wrist, he could do nothing to convince her that this was the right decision. He was sure it was the best decision, until he thought about his family. How will they ever survive without him running the bakery? As he tried to convince Flore, but she just stood by the bars in shock. And then, unexpectedly, she walked away. She walked away as if she had no more feelings towards her husband. He instantly shot himself against the bars. Fabricius stood up, shook the bars of the cell, and pleaded with his wife to forgive him. Flora stopped walking. With sudden hope and relief, her husband exhaled, but there was a long pause. Then, she carried on and thoughtfully strode out the door, shedding a light, thin stream of tears from both eyes. In a rage, Fabricius screamed and punched the wall. He immediately hit his hands together against the cell wall trying in vain to break free. Blood dripped down his arms to the ends of the lead chains. He knew his life was over. For many hours straight, all he did was pray that his wife would take him back.


After a long painful night, a guard suddenly pounced into the cell where Fabricius was lying down. In a state of shock, Fabricius realized the guard meant business, and with one sudden movement, the guard heaved him up with one arm and carried him away. The guard brought him to a horse drawn wagon. He tossed Fabricius in among many other slaves and crooks.

"What a day," said a black man beside him.
"Yes, what a day," Fabricius replied.
"My name is Accius. I am a prisoner, a slave to the Roman empire, and you?"
"I am named after my father Fabricius. I am here because I robbed an old man for money. After that, I ran away from the police. I led them through town. After a while, though, they caught me and threw me to the ground. I was put in jail, and here I am now."
"Harsh way to live my friend," Accius replied. Nothing was spoken for a long while on their way to the dreaded Colosseum.
Fabricius nodded off and then awoke with a sudden halt of the horse-drawn wagon. Fabricius took a glance at the new environment. There was so much going on that his brain could not comprehend most of it. When his gaze returned to the cart, he realized that Accius was being taken away by guards. Fabricius' instinct was to run after him and assist, but he knew he would be in far more danger then he was now. When his attention was focused on Accius, a guard crept up behind him and threw a chain around Fabricius' neck. After a struggle to break free, Fabricius grew very weak, and within seconds, he was out cold, limp and lifeless.
Fabricius regained consciousness with a start. He was in a room that was cold, dark, and covered in dry dirt. The room resembled the cell that he had been in recently. However, there were no bars or locks. He was wondering how long it had been since he was put in the room. What time is it? What day is it? Then he remembered Accius and his attack. Where is Accuis now? he wondered. Fabricius tried to get up, but noticed it was hard to breathe. He unsteadily reached his arms up to his neck, and felt deep indents in his neck. A shock of remembrance ran through his head, and now his head was filled with a lot of different thoughts. Memories flooded his mind; he had been choked. Despite the pain, he knew had to try to find Accius. He had to help him.
He stood up with a grunt, and it wasn't too long before he was surprised again. Almost instantly, he felt pressure in his stomach. Curious, he lifted up his shirt and found deep red marks resembling the ones on his neck. Fabricius began to panic and hyperventilate. This made him cough violently, and within seconds he was choking on his own blood. With blood dripping from his mouth, he moaned in agony. Cough after cough came, and he was choking up more and more blood. For a split second, Fabricius thought he was dying. He couldn't tell how much blood he had lost. Over a period of time, his vision started to blur. Before he knew it he was laying on the ground again. Out cold.
Fabricius woke to the sound of a beating outside his room. He heard a familiar voice; it was Accius. His friend was getting a licking and it seemed that he couldn't do anything about it. While listening to Accius scream in terror, he tried to make his way to the door that was slightly ajar. As he was moving to the door, he collapsed. He was in agony, lying on the ground, but he knew he had to help Accius. Fabricius got up, adrenaline racing through his body. He slipped through the door, but he was too late. There was Accius lying on the floor of his room, across the hall from Fabricius. He was covered in blood. It was hard to imagine that his friend had been beaten so closely to him. Am I next? he wondered. He crouched down and put his ear to Accius's chest, listening for a heart beat or his breathing. Accius spoke in a quiet, rough voice, "Help me, please."
Immediately, Fabricius dragged him into his room and shut the door. Fabricius vowed to protect Accius through times helplessness and despair. Everything was silent but the crying of Fabricius. Accius leaned toward Fabricius and said, "you are a good friend. If you carry on throughout your life like this you will succeed." Accius' head grew limp and gently rolled back. He was asleep but his eyes were still opened. Fabricius knew his friend had passed away.


~By Brady