Day One
From what Laura could see, the arena was an island setting. There were palm trees and other types of trees surrounding the huge open area they were in. The ground was grassy but she could hear waves hitting a shore nearby. A volcano even loomed above in the distance. There was no telling what awaited them farther in the island.
The countdown was a minute long. She tried to relax but it was impossible. The loud, intimidating countdown voice certainly wasn't helping. Laura reluctantly ripped her gaze away from Carmilla when the countdown finished and nearly tripped as she started running towards the Cornucopia.
Her mind blanked for a moment and she stared at the stuff in front of her in a panic. What was she supposed to get again? The sound of someone's fist hitting skin pulled her from her stupor. Weapons. That was what Carm had said. She grabbed a knife and shoved it in the pocket of the standard issue cargo pants she had on. There was a sack nearby. Laura hastily glanced inside, spotting apples and carrying it with her as she searched for more weapons. She just couldn't resist apples.
She reached out for a sword but another person was faster. It was Will. He had a murderous look in his eyes and blood smeared across his face. Laura swung the sack of apples at him in a burst of instinct. He stepped back, dazed by the hit on his head. She took the sword from his grip and ran. Carmilla appeared in the corner of her eye. She was fighting an older-looking guy who had a spear. Blood spilled from her arm when the spear slashed it.
Laura saw red for a moment and went directly to Carmilla. She shoved aside Danny, who was picking up a quiver.
Laura was almost there when a very pissed-off Will tackled her. The sword fell from her hands and he kicked it far away. He held a tomahawk in his left hand. She immediately pushed that arm away but Will was strong and would overtake her soon. She had to think of something.
She used all her strength to keep him away with her right hand while fishing for the knife in her pocket with her left. Will knocked it out of her hand with his right and then swung a punch at her jaw. It never made it. He went limp on top of her. She scrambled out from under him. A heavily bleeding Carmilla stood holding a sword in front of her.
"Is he..?"
"No."
Carmilla had hit him with the handle of her sword in the back of his head, rendering him unconscious.
Laura noticed a neon green backpack on Carmilla's back and sighed in temporary relief. Emphasis on temporary, since an enraged Danny tried to slash her neck with an arrow the moment after. Luckily, she'd seen it coming and ducked. Carmilla expertly hurled the sword at their attacker, landing it in her shoulder. She let out an "oof" and fell backwards. Mel rushed to her side immediately.
She looked uncertain whether to attack them or help Danny. Her choice was made when Carmilla grabbed Laura's hand and ran with her to the trees. A spear from one of the Zetas grazed Laura's ear and she stumbled, hissing in pain. Carmilla helped her stand upright and pulled her along.
Laura made the mistake of looking back. It was bloodshed. She witnessed Kirsch throwing an axe into the eye of another person, who screamed and fell on their knees.
"Laura!"
She whipped her head back around and followed Carmilla away from the fight. A girl who'd flirted with Carm once made a long gash in Laura's back with a sword. Apparently Elsie had noticed them trying to make a break for it. Laura gasped and grabbed Carmilla's arm with both hands desperately to hold herself up. The pain was unlike anything she'd ever felt.
Elsie struck again, this time on Carmilla. She swung at her neck. Carmilla dodged it but it was hard to move with Laura latched onto her.
Laura registered this through the pain and dropped her friend's arm. Standing, doing anything made the wound hurt. She clenched her teeth and drew the knife she'd retrieved again after Will knocked it away.
Carmilla was obviously hurting too, probably more than Laura. She had to suck it up and help. Laura crept around the fighting pair. Then, she lunged. Her knife imbedded itself deep in Elsie's side. This gave Carmilla the opportunity to finish her off. Before she could, Laura urged her not to.
"Please, don't kill her."
"It's life or death here, cupcake."
However, she stepped back. Carmilla eyed the blood seeping into the back of Laura's shirt.
"I'm fine, we need to get farther into the island," Laura said, sensing what she was about to say.
Carmilla was worried but she nodded and wrapped an arm around Laura's waist to give her strength. Laura did the same and they ran as best they could.
It felt like forever until it was night time. They'd given up running and settled for a fast walk by then. Laura leaned her head on Carmilla's shoulder and whispered in her ear. "Can we stop now?"
She nodded and sat down with her.
"I have bandages," Carmilla offered. "Can I put some on your back?"
"You need it more," Laura said.
"Laura, you matter more." Carmilla stared at her so intensely that she just nodded and pulled her shirt off.
It had stuck to her back, so pulling it off was like ripping off the most painful bandaid ever. Carmilla helped her. "Oh, I got this other stuff in the med-kit too. It might soothe the pain."
Laura glanced at the contents of the kit. The cream container was so small that it would only be enough for her back, if that. "You should use it for yourself, Carm."
Of course she shook her head. But Laura wouldn't back down on this one. "It hurts, but bandages will be enough. You have cuts and gashes all over. Please take it for yourself."
Carmilla grumbled an "okay" and started to wrap bandages around Laura's midsection, covering the back wound. When she was done, Laura applied the cream to a gash on Carmilla's shoulder. She also wrapped the remaining bandages around the bleeding injuries.
A crash sounded nearby and a grunt followed by some others yelling about the person's stupidity.
They stiffened and gave each other a fearful look. Laura heard Kirsch say something, confirming it was the Zetas. Every second spent there would be a second closer to death. They carefully packed up their stuff, even the empty med-kit and cream container. Anything could be useful.
Carmilla held a finger to her lips and stood. Laura did the same, biting her lip when the bandages rubbed against her injury. They fast-walked as quietly as possible away from the Zetas. After a minute they broke into a sprint. Their legs both ached already but running for your life kind of gives you an adrenaline rush.
The Zetas definitely heard them.