Free Morpheus Road 03 - The Blood by D.J. MacHale Page A

was flying on adrenaline, fear . . . and hate. To him the gladiator who was hammering away at Zoe represented Damon. It made what he had to do that much easier.
    Zoe fell to the ground, holding up her shield in defense. She was exhausted.
    The gladiator raised his sword high, ready to end the battle with one final blow.
    Zoe valiantly lifted her shield to protect herself.
    The gladiator bellowed with bloodlust . . . and the scream caught in his throat as he froze, holding the sword poised high.
    Zoe stared up at him, confused. What had happened? Why hadn't he finished her? She dropped her eyes and saw the reason: A pointed metal blade stuck out from his chest. Behind him, Cooper stood with both hands on the shaft of the spear.
    "This won't stop him for long," Coop said quickly. "We gotta go."
    The gladiator dropped to his knees in a haze of pain and confusion. He wasn't going to die, he was going to get angry. "Fool!" Zoe scolded.
    "Uh . . . what?" Coop replied, stunned.
    The gladiator had gathered his wits and let out an angry holler that echoed through the stadium.
    "Follow!" Zoe commanded, and took off running, sprint ing for the gladiator's entrance to the arena.
    Coop let go of the spear and followed quickly.
    The boos rained down on them. The spirit spectators had expected a battle to the death, not a cowardly sprint for freedom.
    Several soldiers clambered over the brick wall and into the arena to give chase.
    Zoe hit the tunnel that led beneath the stands and didn't stop. Cooper was right behind.
    "You should not have interfered!" she screamed angrily.
    "Hey, I just saved you!" Coop yelled back.
    "And condemned the others to death."
    "What others?"
    Zoe led Cooper into the bowels of the Colosseum, follow ing a twisted route through narrow stone passageways and down steep wooden stairways. The rank smell of animals and sour sweat grew stronger the farther they descended.
    "What do you mean?" Coop gasped as they ran. "Who's condemned?"
    "Your friend Maggie."
    "Where is she?" Coop yelled back, stunned.
    "Here," Zoe answered. "Damon threatened to destroy them if I did not do battle."
    "Them?"
    "Your grandfather is here as well."
    Coop didn't know whether to be relieved or horrified. "But . . . why don't you all just leave? It's not like he can lock you up."
    "We stayed to protect Ree," Zoe answered, breathless. "Now you've condemned them all."
    They hit the lowest subterranean level, where the only light came through narrow slits in the walls that allowed in a small hint of the sun. The tight corridor opened up into a wide paddock that was lined with cages. The floor was wet and the animal smell so strong that Coop had to fight to keep from gagging.
    They were met by the angry growls of surprised lions, who resented the intrusion on their nap time. One male lion lunged at the bars of his cage, biting at the wooden bars. Coop instinctively jumped away, but slammed into the opposite cage that held an annoyed bear that tried to reach its paw out to slash him.
    Zoe didn't stop running, so Coop had to collect himself quickly and keep moving. He passed more cages that were homes to tigers, hippos, and even a few ostriches. All were there to provide amusement for the bloodthirsty spectators in the arena above, the same as when the Colosseum was open for business in the Light centuries before.
    Beyond the paddock they moved through an equally dank corridor of cells that were used to house slaves bound for the arena. None were occupied. Spirits in the Black had choices, and none chose to be torn apart by lions for the amusement of others. The stretch of dark cells gave way to a wider corridor with better ventilation and light. These were the cells where the gladiators prepared for battle. Each room had a crude bed, table, and chair. They weren't luxuri ous, but were far more comfortable than the slave quarters. These too were empty.
    Zoe ran into the final room that was lined with several large cells. It was the place where the