When morning comes, this city turned quiet and the red light fades away. It was the most alive in the dark.
James did not stand out among the crowd despite his black uniform as he covered himself with a brown leather robe. Besides, it would attract unnecessary attention to see a priest visiting this type of place. Hence, James made sure to hide his appearance as much as possible.
The medallion around his neck was unreactive but James has decided to it is better to not rely too much on the medallion and on his instinct instead.
He wanders around the street and his sensitive ears caught wind of a desperate soul crying for help. His head turned and saw a horse carriage walking through the streets.
"Make way!" shouted the rider.
The crowd parted into two sides to allow the carriage to move.
The carriage was moving towards a huge canopy. James decided to follow it.
James went inside the canopy and saw the rider unlocking the carriage and a girl walking out of it. She had long hair and was wearing a dress. That's all James could see before he was being interrupted by a sleazy looking man.
"Oh, is there anything that caught your interest?" a sleazy man approached James. He was wearing a black suit and when he smiles, a golden tooth sparkles from his row of perfectly white teeth.
James looked around the place. Poorly lit. Smell terrible. Filled with the growl and cries of humans and animals. And many cages.
Yet, he could only hear only one soul crying for help.
"What is this place?" asked James.
"Ah, this place is where the savages are gathered. Criminals, murderers, rapist, and all sorts. We have beast as well. Exotic beats. One you could never see it in real life. Exotic but not as pretty as you would expect. We pit them against one another and we earn a few bucks. Our audience loved a good bloody show and because they are criminals nobody actually sympathized with them. So don't feel bad for them because I could see on your face that you are feeling bad for them," said the sleazy man.
"In fact, these criminals quite like it in here. They get to fulfill their desire by lashing out in the arena. It is the survival of the fittest. But some are just too weak mentally so they break even before entering the fighting ring. But those weak ones are good as punching bags. Sometimes people rent them to release their anger. And sometimes, victims who know that they are being transferred here will come down here just to exact revenge."
"How do they get transferred here?" asked James.
"Hmm," the sleazy man rubbed his chin. "Well, it's pretty well known anyway so I guess I will just tell you. The leader of this city bought the criminals as slaves and locked them here for her entertainment," said the sleazy man.
"What about the girl that recently arrived?" asked James.
"Oh, that one…so you are interested in that girl?" said the sleazy man.
"Yes, I am."
"Oh, what an honest fella. But she is off-limits. She is coming here to spectate the fighting ring here."
"Then, is there a way for me to speak to her?" asked James.
The sleazy man rubbed his chin.
"There is…but you will have to participate in the fighting. Are you up for the challenge?"
James gave it a thought.
"Sure."
The sleazy man smiled. "Excellent. Let me make the necessary arrangement."