Dana pushed the cart of plastic scraps across the plant. She strained against the heavy cart as she shoved it to the recycling part of the facility. Tired, she paused a moment to catch her breath.
“Well, well, well,” said a familiar voice, “if it isn’t the girl who broke my nose.”
“Leave me alone,” said Dana.
“Elsie isn’t here to save you this time.”
Mad Dog nodded at his friends. At once, they grabbed the cart and tipped it over, spilling its contents. Plastic bottles and sheets scattered everywhere, clinking against each other as they rolled across the ground.
“Guess you’re going to be late with that stuff,” sneered Mad Dog.
Infuriated from his constant taunts, Dana rushed him. She plowed into him, punching him in the jaw.
Mad Dog wiped drops of blood from his lip. “So you want to play?”
He attacked, catching Dana in the stomach. Doubled over, she head-butted him. Before the fight could go much further, whistles sounded from all over as officers ran to them, pulling them apart.
“So, you want to fight?” said Officer Burroughs, eyeing the two of them as they struggled against being held. “Very well. Summon everyone to the pit.”
The buzzer sounded two consecutive times. Instantly, people dropped their tools and filed over to the gathering area. Officer Burroughs smiled maliciously as both Dana and Mad Dog were dragged over to it.
The pit was a giant hole in the middle of the plant. The only way out was by rope. Fear filled Dana as she realized what was about to happen. As the two officers hauled her closer to the edge, she put her feet out, pushing with all of her strength.
“None of that now,” said one of the officers.
Dana locked eyes with George for a moment. The worried expression on his face told her all she needed to know.
“Silence, all of you,” bellowed Officer Burroughs. “It seems we have ourselves a feud. What do we with do with that? Send them here.”
Claps and cheers sounded from many of the officers that had crowded around as well.
“Here, you both will fight to the death. Throw them in.” Officer Burroughs flicked his hand.
Dana’s stomach lurched as the officer tossed her into the pit. She landed on the steep side and rolled to the bottom. Dazed, Dana remained on the ground. A great weight landed on top of her, causing her back to ache.
Shoving Mad Dog off, Dana hopped to her feet. She watched as Mad Dog rose to his feet, staring at her with murderous eyes. Shouts filled the expanse as people took bets on who would win. Dana eyed the crowd. She soon regretted doing so as Mad Dog rammed into her, knocking her flat.
Dana seized his shoulders and flipped him over her. His moan told her she had done some damage. Dana rolled onto her hands and knees. Mad Dog charged again. She sprang to her feet and met his attack. They locked arms, each trying to deal a blow. Finally, Dana stomped on his foot. Hopping, Mad Dog released his grip on her. Dana punched him in the face, causing him to stagger back.
Dust flew into Dana’s eyes as Mad Dog kicked at the dirt. Blinded, she rubbed her eyes, trying to clear them. A weight slammed into her as Mad Dog attacked. Sharp pain seized her stomach as he kicked her. Dana doubled over again, gasping for air. Immediately, a force rocked her face as Mad Dog planted his fist into it. He punched her again.
Somewhere in the distance, Dana thought she heard Elsie. Ears ringing from the force of Mad Dog’s punches, Dana wobbled on her feet, shaking her head. Movement caught her eye, her vision finally clearing. She stepped into Mad Dog’s attack, twisted around, and elbowed him in the stomach. She whirled around again. Facing him, Dana grasped his shoulders and pushed him downward as she rammed her knee into his face.
Jeers shot from the overexcited crowd. Many of the officers joined the commotion, yelling at them and telling them what to do. Some exchanged coins from lost bets.
Dana turned back to Mad Dog. He charged her again. She sidestepped. Mad Dog had read her movements and moved to the side as well, catching her off guard. He flung her to the ground. Before Dana could regain her feet, Mad Dog kicked her repeatedly.
Sore and confused, Dana remained in the dirt. Mad Dog reached down and picked up a rock. He lifted it high above his head just as Dana rolled onto her back. She knew what was coming.
“Go ahead,” said Dana.
Mad Dog started to throw the rock, but stopped. He looked into Dana’s eyes and the mixture of defiance and acceptance within them. Not a bit of fear filled her.
Having never killed anyone before, Mad Dog didn’t know what to do. He scanned the crowd and their excitement. Disgust filled him. Refusing to play their game, he dropped the rock.
Enraged at his entertainment being foiled, Officer Burroughs stepped to the front of the crowd. “Kill her,” he yelled at Mad Dog.
Neither Mad Dog, nor Dana moved.
“Shoot them both,” said Officer Burroughs.
“Wait!” George pushed his way through the crowd. “Leave them be.”
“You dare challenge me?”
“You’ve had your fun. What is the point in killing them?”
“What indeed?” Officer Burroughs studied George, Dana, and Mad Dog. “Get them out of there! Everyone get back to work!”
Before George knew what had happened, Officer Burroughs struck him with a baton, forcing him to his knees. Not satisfied, he hit George three more times with the baton.
As he raised his club a fifth time, a hand seized it. Mad Dog, who had scrambled out of the pit first, held it tightly. His eyes said what words could never convey.
Officer Burroughs relaxed his arm. As Mad Dog released his grip, Officer Burroughs swung his baton at him, smacking him in the neck and leaving a bloody stripe. Mad Dog crumpled to the ground. “When I tell you to kill someone, filth, you do it.”
Clinging to the rope and the edge of the pit, Dana watched the whole thing. She heaved her way onto solid ground and ran to George. Elsie and Sanders ran to him as well.
Mad Dog’s friends reached his side. They inspected his wound and determined it wasn’t life threatening.
Elsie encouraged Dana to lean on her shoulder while Sanders helped George up. They all left the area in silence.
Dystopia Page 8
