Meeting the one

Cassandra took long deep breaths. Her blood-soaked hand was firmly holding the metal ring in the middle. Her wide blade, perked on top of her weapon was now extended, piercing through Bertha's chest.

Stuck and disoriented, the sturdy woman felt up her bleeding torso. The significant loss of blood, paired with the neck wound, made her dizzy. "But... but how? Doesn't the spike go through the mace top?" she uttered as blood gushed through her mouth.

"Actually, it goes both way," Cassandra said blunt.

"Oh," Bertha uttered before her knees became too weak to hold up her body.

Victorious, Cassandra looked at the crowd. Observing their shocked faces, she flung her hands in the air. Through the applause, a few unhappy viewers started throwing things at her, even trying to enter the arena to fight her.

"Oh, so that is how it's going to be!" she yelled with adrenaline rushing through her veins. Turning to Biff, she yelled, "Bring me the chariot!"

He turned to her and laughed disrespectfully. He quickly changed his mind, however, once Cassandra held up Bertha's mace.

As the chariot was brought over, the crowd watched, curious what will happen next. Cassandra tied Bertha's anemic body to the back and took the rails. The horse let out a clunky neigh and started moving. Bertha mumbled, falling in and out of consciousness.

Making a few round in the arena, Cassandra came to a realization. She tried the magma pipe, but it seemed empty. "Oh no!" she thought becoming increasingly worried about her well-being. There was a large chance that, after finishing her ride, she'll be tackled from all sides. Unless...

The upset rider pointed the horse in the direction of the main door and jumped off. The mechanical metal creation flew past the gate, pulling the former gladiator star with it.

"Where is your champion now!" she yelled pointing.

In a state of frenzy, many damned souls jumped out of their seats chasing after their beloved Bertha. The chariot was quickly surrounded, with heaps and heaps of clawed hands tearing into the former champion's flesh.

Cassandra found herself alone, with enraged Tamara and Biff coming for her from one side and Basil rushing from the other.

Cassandra swiftly turned in both directions, not sure what to do. Biff glared at her furious, while Basil looked frantic, almost hopping towards her. She rushed towards her date, taking his extended hand.

"I'm sorry, I..." came out of her mouth before he knelt down on one knee. "Marry me!" he said with an excited grin.

Cassandra was dumbstruck, as were her bosses. The couple stopped dead in their tracks and looked up at the main balcony. Their overlord stood with his large red arms crossed, observing them with a stern expression. Tamara and Biff bowed, moving away. The crowd was slowly returning, each with a small gruesome souvenir. They observed the events in the arena, confused and curious.

The proposed girl did not have to think too long. "Yes," she said, surprised by her luck. Basil got up and kissed her, as their tails twirled around each other.

A quiet clap echoed through the arena, followed by a few clasped hands. The happy couple looked up at the viewers. "Rejoice, dwellers of Helltown! A great celebration will take place soon. And you are all invited!" Basil said theatrically.

The clunky applause turned into a roar of approval, with the prince of darkness observing his excited subjects with disgust.

Cassandra smiled looking at her future husband and kissed him again.

Tamara sighed. "Don't you remember when we were like that?" she said to her spouse, who was discretely simmering with rage.

During her Earthly life, in her late 20s. Tiffany was fixing her hair in her parents' late 70s home. Her mother sat on the sofa watching her disapprovingly. She was slim and proper, with frizzy bleached hair and thick glasses.

Sighing louder, she turned to her conservatively dressed daughter in a disapproving manner.

"Is there a problem, mother?" the young woman addressed her, slightly annoyed.

"Oh nothing... I was just thinking about your life choices, that's all. I mean, you started off so well. Entering an Ivy League school and snatching that handsome boy... And five years later, what do you have to show for it? A degree in not one but two dead languages and a one-way ticket to spinsterville."

Her daughter grunted, hearing this story way too many times. "I'm going out with the girls. Don't wait up."

"Sure, sure. Party your life away. You are not getting any younger, you know," her mother said, turning her head worried.

Tiffany calmly applied some more lipstick as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"Ha! What did they use to call you? Tim and Tiff, was it? It was so cute. Like an ice cream flavor."

The young woman made a face. "Yeah, that's what happens when you name your child after a movie."

"Oh hush... Tiffany is a beautiful name. No other would suit you better."

"I seriously doubt that," she muttered under her breath.

Her mother let out another sigh, tilting her head. "Whatever happened to him? Tim, I mean."

"He got signed in to a major NFL club and moved on," Tiffany said calmly.

"Did he ever call you? Asked you to come with him?"

"No," Tiff lied.

"Well, that's a darn shame," her mother said pouty. Tiff's father entered. He was a mild man with a receding hairline.

"What's all the fuss about?"

"Mom's having her usual panic attack," Tiff complained.

"I am serious, Tiffany! You need to do something with your life before it is too late!"

With a loud grunt, the young woman stomped towards her mother, making the 40-year-old woman move aback. Gently kissing her on the cheek, her daughter stated calmly, "Mom, please calm down. You don't want your blood pressure to go up again, do you?"

Her father patted her on the shoulder. Helping her with her jacket, he escorted his daughter out.

"Pay no attention to what she said. You know it all comes from a good place," he said, giving her some money.

"I know, dad. It's just such a bummer. She knows me... When did I not have a plan?" she said, slightly irritated.

"We know that pumpkin. We know," he smiled. "Have fun."

"Bye," she waved, leaving the porch.

Happy but still affected, Tiffany drove over to her hometown's disco club, where her longtime gal pals were having a girl's night.

They greeted her with glee and went inside. In a good mood, they drank and laughed as the music blasted around them.

"To the future. And all the good stuff it may bring," Tina yelled, raising her glass.

"To not knowing what the future will bring!" Tiffany added tipsy.

"Oh boo... Since when are you such a downer?" Regina teased.

"I'm serious... at this point in time, I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life," Tiffany stated, chugging her drink.

"Oh wow. That's actually terrifying coming from you," Jenifer said serious.

"I know," Tiff remarked.

Tina scratched her head when an idea came into her head. "Hey, do you remember my cousin Samuel?"

"That dork from high school?" Regina said, making a face.

"Yeah... Guess what, he is not a dork anymore. He got a new haircut and a good job in Washington DC..."

"What kind of job?" she asked.

"Something at an accounting agency."

The girls groaned as if someone farted.

"Imagine, going to a place like that to do the most heinous job ever," Jenifer scoffed.

"Yeah, sounds like a hella bore to me. Hard pass," Regina said.

"I'm serious. He often asks about you when we talk on the phone. In fact, he's coming over next week! You should meet with him, Tiff!"

Her two friends shook their head frantically. Regina made a face as if the mere idea disgusted her. "Tell, him she's not interested. She can find a better guy puking behind a dumpster!"

Tiffany frowned at her friend's reaction. "That's a little harsh, isn't it?"

"Once a dork, always a dork," Reggie proudly declared.

"Are you girls serious? What's with the attitude!" their single friend said.

"What attitude?" Jenifer asked.

"You haven't seen the guy in years, and yet you're bashing him as if he was a circus freak!" she uttered, flabbergasted.

Jenifer and Reggie blinked. Thinking about it for a moment, they looked away, focusing on their drinks.

"Tina, I would love to catch up with him. You set it up as soon as he arrives," the girl with highlights said determined.

"Great!" Tina smiled. Nodding, Tiffany glanced serious at her pouty friends.

Back in Helltown, Cassandra wiped the tears from her eyes. Her cell door opened, with many shadows blocking the hallway light. The demon-looking girl raised her head, looking at her bosses with all the female gladiators making a row behind them. They were all carrying heavy dark boxes, staring at her menacingly. All except Tamara, who stood quiet and solemn. "It's time," she said ceremoniously.