Gladiators ~by Gideon

When we got to the barracks, we were given a lecture. After listening ot the elder Spartan trainers lecture it seemed like if we did one thing wrong, we would be beaten until we were purple. Immediately after the lecture, we were sent on a long run . We ran for what seemed forever, but when I think back it was most likely only one mile. After the run, we dueled with wooden swords and wrestled, which was really entertaining and also frightening because some of the kids were a lot bigger than me. Every kid learned to duel and wrestle at the barracks. That was just what we had to do. I wrestled Jason, and some kid who I did not know dueled Sparcus. Jason had me on the ground in about five seconds. The kid that Sparcus dueled was about my size and got the wind knocked out of him in moments . The kid was really angry at Sparcus but couldn't do anything about it until he could breathe naturally. Every kid dueled and wrestled that day. The most exciting thing that happened was that a couple kids were thrown on to their heads which caused them to forget what had happened. Some thought this was entertaining while others thought it was scary. Most of our life had been enjoyable so far but everyone knew how hard it was about to become. We were told later that evening by kids who were almost done with training how much bloodier and scary it would get. They told us stories about the duels and warned us we would start using real spears and swords. This scared me because I was barely able to survive with wooden swords. The next couple of years would be very difficult.

After a month or so we began to receive less food from the mess hall. We were starving. We needed to eat. At about 12 o clock at night we would sneak out and steal from the market this was the only way we could survive. My friends and I thought they didn't give us enough food because the cooks were too lazy but in fact the elders just wanted us to get used battle conditions . The lecture on first day of training made it clear that if you were caught stealing you would be whipped for being so stupid as to steal. In the moment we didn't think about the consequences all we thought about was food . One night when we were out we heard screaming. Kids in another pack had been caught stealing food, they were beaten by there captain who was angry to find out that his training did not teach stealth . Jason ,Spacus and I now knew for sure, while watching the whipping, that we were being tested and that was why we weren’t getting very much food and drink. The captain beat the kids form the pack with a whip. Every time one of them was whipped a there would be a spurt of blood like a malfunctioning water fountain. They were almost in tears I think everyone felt bad for them and I think it scared everyone too. No one went out the next night to steal from the market.

I was so tired from not eating because when you don’t have enough food in your stomach it is hard to do pretty much anything. I couldn’t even sleep. I would lay awake making a plan to fill my belly. I decided not to attend the ceremony where we sacrifice to the Gods. Instead I decided to sleep and regain my energy and to steal something good from the market. I told Jason and Sparcus my plan, they think I will be caught and beaten. I told Sparcus to dress up in my robes so I wont be caught and he agreed.

The day after the sacrifice I went to the mess hall with Jason and Sparcus. All of the elders praised us for being very religious kids and announced we should get special privileges. They announced we don't have to go running. Instead we were able to go spar which is my favorite thing in the world and a priviledge. However, the one thing I didn't know is that we were about to use real swords and spears for the first time.

After, being praised by the elders, our elders let us have a day that all we do is fight. I fought a kid I really didn’t know. Within seconds, I had the tip of my sword at his throat. There was terror in his eyes he said "since when are you good at fighting?" Jason and Sparcus were crying with laughter because the kids expression was pretty hilarious. He looked like he was going to start crying but he finally got up. After that little battle there were a couple of really gory fights. Jason was fighting a kid with a spears. He hit the kid in the head with the shaft of the spear, the kid then fell onto his hands and knees and then Jason brought the tip of the spear straight down into the kid’s hand. If you can imagine a bottle of wine exploding you should be able to picture this. The kids hand was stuck in the ground cause the spear had gone straight through his hand and beyond his hand, several inches in the ground. Everyone was speechless except the kid who was screaming "take it out please!!!! " Within seconds Jason pulled the spear out and the kid had left and gone to the infirmary. In the past Jason and I would always duel but he was not dueling today and seemed somewhat down. Instead I dueled Sparcus who's reflexes seemed sort of slow. Still he was very good he almost cut my head off if hadn't ducked I wouldn't be here today. I lunged and stabbed at him but he sidestepped and I missed him by inches. He slashed down at my feet and I jumped back. Sparcus had a creepy grin on his face he looked like he wanted to stab me as many times as he could within the next few minutes without chopping me in half. He started to sprint at me I did the first thing that came to mind. I threw my sword like a dagger it went soaring and it hit Sparcus square in the jugular. Everyone was slightly impressed but they were also frightened. Several were muttering "how did he do that". It seemed that the world had stopped for me I just put a sword through my best friends throat. We all have been told by the elders that you can only live for a few minutes when your throat has been slit. My sword was still in Sparcus. I walked over to Sparcus I felt like I had no emotions. I wasn't in tears, I wasn't happy, I wasn't sad, I was just there. When I got to Sparcus he was as pale as a ghost. I was suddenly overcome with emotions. I was starting to feel extremely horrible then Sparcus whispered something to me " you fought well" then he was gone. I put my foot on his chest and pulled my sword out of his throat there was a blast of blood then it was over, Sparcus was dead. The boy who helped me out more than anyone was dead. I was going to have to overcome what had happened that day. I was changed from that day forward.

After many years of training to be a warrior I became a captain and lead the Spartans into many battles. I was one of the thousands that fought at Troy. I became what Sparcus wanted for me. Jason died at Troy he was my favorite he was killed by the Trogens spears. He gave his life for so many people he was a true hero.

In the end plenty of us survived even though my best friends were dead. I noticed that I have come a long way from being the kid who almost gets beaten with wooden swords.