I'm a coward.

That's all I can think as P09 throws the axe, which slams into the arena wall behind me. I roll along the dirt floor and grab a knife from the limp hand of P17.

Every kingdom in the land sent their best warrior to fight in the Death Match. Whoever wins makes their kingdom the capital and becomes ruler, until the next Death Match. I don't know why they sent me.

P09 pulls her axe out of the wall behind me as I sprint to the other side of the arena.

I can hear her on my tail, with her axe. I'm honestly terrified.

I'm a coward.

She's clearly trained most of her life for this. I take a sharp turn around a barrier, trying to escape P09, but instead crashing into P01. Her bright eyes stare into mine and I catch a glimpse of fear flash through them before it's replaced with focus. I can almost hear her thoughts.

Kill me and live, or let me live and risk death.

I'm a coward.

I can't bring myself to kill her. But she could kill me in a millisecond. Her dagger is in her outstretched hand. One quick move and I'd be finished.

Or we could both survive. A king and a queen. It's in the rules.

This must be what she thought, because without a sound, she's ducked away and started running off. I tuck my body around the barrier and grip P17's knife tightly. I take a deep breath.

I'm a coward.

I haven't killed anyone yet. But if I want to make it out of here alive, I have to kill P09.

It's surprising, how easy it comes to me. I see her figure emerge from around the barrier and suddenly, my knife is in her chest.

Dead.

Only 3 of us left. I race around another barrier and find myself facing a dead end. Cursing, I spin on my heel to get out, but instead, I come face to face with P20.

I know him. At least, I knew him. I knew his name. His real name. Not the detached title given to us for the Death Match. I feel my hand shaking. I know I can't do it. P09 was different. I never knew her. She was just a nameless girl. But P20 is real.

I drop my knife, a steadiness settling over me. I know I'd rather die than kill him.

I'm a coward.

I didn't have to make the choice. P01 came of of nowhere. One second I'm staring into the eyes of the boy I used to know, and the next, P09's axe is in his skull and he dies before me, by the hands of P01.

In a hazy blur, P01's arms are wrapped around my neck and the crowds are roaring above me. Tears stream down both of our faces. I'm going to live, but my mind is still somewhere else.

I'm a coward.