The prison cell Lazarus has kept me in consists of a small square with four walls. There is no light, no leg space and no window even though I am somehow able to breathe despite the lack of ventilation.

It is spaces like these that make you a prisoner to your own thoughts and I am no exception. There is nothing on the plain dark walls to distract me. All I can think of is Lazarus's overbearing hatred for his childhood friend, Lucian. It reminds me of sibling jealousy only this has morphed into something much more sinister.

And it doesn't help that these two were next in line to take over command of the universe. Come to think of it, anyone watching closely could have anticipated the war we are currently going through. 

Another dark thought dances its way into my thoughts. The leadership for Pluto was already wrought with tension but I am the wedge who split up the empire. By escaping Pluto, I gave Lazarus the opportunity to do so.

I close my eyes but the darkness behind my eyelids is almost the same as when my eyes were open. I'm curled up in a corner, my back hunched over and aching from remaining in the same position the entire night.

I think about General Lyra or Commander Z or whoever S was who helped us escape Pluto during Lucian and Lazarus's final match. 

Lazarus was going to kill Lucian that night, or so I thought but after last night I'm not so sure. It appears Lazarus wants to keep Lucian for last, to make sure he suffers the most. 

I bite my lip knowing that thinking about the past will not help but I can't stop myself. I can't help but wonder if my actions that lead to this war was a good thing or if it was the ultimate mistake. 

Why did 'S' go through all that trouble to help us? The memory of all those explosions going off while we escaped the pits flits through my mind and I have never been more confused in my life. 

The sound of door hinges grating echoes in the distance and I instinctively stiffen. One of the walls in my cell slides open and my eyes squint at the light that shines on me. It makes my eyes water. 

A sturdy Plutonian hand grabs hold of my ankle and pulls me outside. The muscles in my back stretch out in relief and a few cracks reverberate through the air as I straighten up. 

I'm escorted out of the prison base by four towering Plutonians, each equipped with two laser guns attached to their hips as if I would be able to somehow overpower them. I don't recognise any of them and I follow silently as we walk to a glider with an attached cell by the back. 

A crowd of civilians form by the sidewalk, all of them watching me as they place me inside with my hands cuffed to the wall. The glider takes off and I look out the windows. A sinking feeling slowly builds in the pit of my stomach as I realise where we are heading.

We don't go through the city, instead the glider takes a less scenic route along the dull grey landscape around the North City and I see the tall towering confines of the Pits up ahead. The benches have been added on all around it, to fit in more spectators and I almost laugh in despair. 

How poetic that I should die at the place where everything started.

We stop by the entrance to the waiting rooms and I am escorted inside through a series of narrow, winding pathways. There are a few human fighters sitting in a few chambers and they stare at me with wide eyes, the recognition clear on their faces. 

They know who I am but the horror in their eyes confirms that they think I am the betrayer Lazarus has painted me out to be. 

I don't see anyone I recognise and for that I am almost thankful, that is until we finally stop in my holding room. 

"Aria," Stela's flighty voice fills the air and I stop short for a second. I had forgotten all about her. 

She marches up to me and smiles at me wickedly as she takes in my disheveled appearance. 

"Don't worry I will try to make you as presentable as possible for your execution later."

The four Plutonians dump me on a seat and leave the room while Stela grabs a few clothes from her bag. 

"Stela, why are you here?" I ask in annoyance. Aside from Lazarus, she is the last person I want to see before I walk out onto those sandy pits. 

"I'm here to do my job and that is getting you ready," She admonishes. She snaps her fingers and a young human girl runs inside to do her bidding. The girl takes me to the washroom where she brushes my teeth and washes me up roughly. 

I briefly size her up, she is small and frail, hitting her and running out of this bathroom would be a piece of cake but then I'd have to get out of the holding rooms here without getting caught. I glance at Stela who is fiddling with a blouse outside and notice the small gun attached to her waist. 

Does she even know how to shoot?

"You work for Lazarus now?"I call out to her and her head whips in my direction, her expression fierce.

"I have always served him, unlike you," Her words drip venom and she gestures for the girl to bring me outside. 

They dry me up and place me in a training suit, making me look like a fighter all over again. 

"What's his plan? Am I supposed to fight till I die?" I murmur, my eyes fixed on the gun by Stela's waist. It is loosely attached to a saddle by her hip, it wouldn't take much effort to snatch it off her especially since I know she isn't a trained fighter. 

"I think so," She replies. "You should have never defied him, Aria. You are such a selfish person. Look at how much destruction you left in your wake. The Generals and the Trinity split up and Master Lazarus has been so broken up about it." 

I snort at her last sentence making her glare at me. 

"I'm going to be playing a pivotal role for when we finally arrive on Earth," She straightens up proudly and looks at me.

"And that is?" I amuse her by entertaining her statement and she walks closer to fiddle with my hair. 

"I'm going to set an example for all the humans on Earth. Show them how lovely it is to serve under the Plutonian empire," She smiles coyly and I notice her blush. "Maybe once I prove myself, Master Lazarus might fall in love with me." 

This time I can't control my laughter. 

"What? You think you're the only one who can get the Trinity to fall in love with them?" Stela scowls looking offended. 

"No," I lean over, panting after my bout of laughter but also closer to the gun by her hip. "It's just funny that you think Lazarus is capable of love. You know he hates humans, right?"

"He hates you but then again so do I. A lot of people hate you, Aria." Her face is filled with malice and she is so absorbed in her fantasy, it is almost too easy to swing forward and snatch the gun from her saddle. 

Both of them gasp in shock and I aim it at her as I back up to the door. I don't even know what I am doing, only that the opportunity was staring me in the face, I couldn't not take it. 

"Sorry but I'm not going to spend my last few moments listening to your delusions," I say to Stela and her eyes glow with anger. 

I tap on the door and it slides open only to reveal the four Plutonians. I aim my gun at them just as they do the same to me. Four against one, well I might as well die here instead of on a broadcast. 

"Bone Breaker, stop making a fool out of yourself," Lazarus's voice echoes from a distance and my heart sinks to my stomach when I see him walking towards me with a troop of soldiers surrounding him. 

I aim the gun in his direction and Stela gasps from behind me. 

"Don't shoot him. He's done nothing wrong," She begs desperately but I ignore her, my gaze fixed on Lazarus. 

His officers stand in front of him, ready to take the bullet for their leader but I can still see his devious smile focused on me like lasers. 

"Do you honestly think I would give a charged laser gun to an untrained paramour? Do not shoot her," He instructs his soldiers who glare at me from behind their guns.

I press on the handle repeatedly and the Plutonians recoil in anticipation, expecting a plethora of laser beams to hit them but nothing happens. 

Lazarus's laughter grates my ears until he is standing in front of me, drowning out everyone else in the walkway. He grabs the gun from my hand and hands in to his men. 

"Your useless efforts are tireless but thoroughly amusing. I think I might actually miss you once you are dead." 

He takes a step closer and I instinctively take a step back which of course makes him smile even wider. 

"Master Lazarus, thank you for gracing us with your presence," Stela chimes from behind and he glances at her, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. 

"Yes, you may leave us now. I want to talk to the prisoner alone." 

Her face falls at his statement but she obeys silently, leaving the room with the human slave in tow. 

"What now?" I ask tiredly and he cocks his head to the side, his eyes twinkling as he stares at me.

"I've been thinking about the garbage you spouted last night," He admits and then he grabs my wrist and pulls me to the long seat behind us, forcing me to sit down. He fists my hair and pulls me closer, till our faces almost touch and I wince in discomfort. "You lied to me." 

"What do you mean?" I ask dumbly and he tuts in disappointment. 

"About Lucian and you. I received a tip saying he has sent a team to Elca after Polaris. Idiot doesn't know that Polaris is still here. Your lover boy still cares for you and I will be waiting for him to come here and rescue you. He certainly is dumb enough to do so," His smile stretches over his cheeks and it causes a knot of fear in my stomach. 

Lucian can't come here. It's a death trap. 

"No," I say in a hoarse whisper. 

"Become my lover and I will spare your life. I will not kill you today," Lazarus's fingers loosen and he strokes my head tenderly. 

I lean back, not liking this proximity but he holds me in place firmly. 

"I ca-can't do that," I stutter in fear. 

"Why not? You will learn to love and serve me all the same. In the end they all do," He kisses me forcefully and I push against him in desperation. I punch his chest repeatedly until he finally releases me. 

His eyes narrow and he doesn't look so pleased with my reluctance. "Lucian should have never treated you like an equal. You have become too proud. You have forgotten your place." 

"Unlike you, Lucian respects himself and therefore he respects every other living being and treats us all equally. You are the flawed one here," I answer back and Lazarus's face fills with loathing. 

He slaps me and I fall to the side, my head hitting the chair's arm, sending ripples of pain through my skull. The taste of iron fills my mouth and I spit out blood. 

He stands up in disgust and steps on my ankle forcefully. A loud snap reverberates through the air and I am momentarily blinded with pain as my ankle twists to the side painfully. My cries fill the room and I clutch my leg with tear filled eyes. 

"Oh dear me, how are you going to fight like that?" Lazarus leans down and looks at me in satisfaction.

The door snaps open and I wonder if I am about to be called onto the pits to fight till I die but Lazarus's officer stares at him, trying his best to hide his panic. 

"Umm, General Lazarus, there appears to be something wrong with our broadcast," He says hesitantly and Lazarus's eyes narrow to slits. 

"What exactly?" 

"We are currently working on it," He replies. 

"Which means you don't know," Lazarus sighs. He turns to me quickly. "Last chance to change your mind, Bone Breaker. I can fix you up, announce your death and keep you as my lover. Your every word of defiance is like a pill of ecstasy to me. No other human has ever boiled my blood like you have."

I shake my head vehemently, the pain in my leg consuming my every sense.

"Very well. It will be a pleasure to watch you die," He stands up and leaves.

The door shuts and I allow myself to howl in pain. I don't know how much time has passed but every movement hurts like someone is stabbing my skin repeatedly, I am so consumed by my tears that I barely hear the small muffled shouts outside.

It draws my attention and I hold a breath as the door opens once again. My eyes widen in panic when I see Polaris rush in with a limp, there is a small gash in his arm and green blood trickles down his sleeve, staining his uniform.

"We have to move fast," He whispers urgently.

Heyyy did you expect that ending? Anyway hope you enjoyed :) :)