Wet and Hungry was the only way Arun could describe the feeling that sat at the forefront of all his thoughts. He lay still in an inky darkness, drenched in an ooze-like liquid he could barely see. He could not speak, as every time he tried he’d get a mouthful of something vile that only made his hunger more maddening.


    “<i>Diminutive creature”,</i> a voice said.


    The voice seemed to come from inside and all around him.


    “<i>W-Where am I”?</i>


    Arun assumed he had been killed and this was the hell reserved for his kind. It was well known that Goblin’s were the least favorite children of any god. The Godless race, born through a misguided attempt of a lower deity to create when he did not have the right permissions.


    “<i>I had expected more”, </i>the voice said, hardly trying to hide its contempt.


    “<i>What happens now? Is this eternity”?</i>


    The liquid around him gurgled, bubbling up and rising till it was at his neck.


    “<i>What is your name”?</i>


    Arun tried not to panic, “<i>Arun…sir”?</i>


    The water cooled, lowering till about his chest.


    <i>“We do not have much time. Soon they will be upon you and they will kill you. Perhaps I should ask if you even wish to live.”</i>


    <i>“YES”, </i>Arun blurted out.


    “<i>Then fill me”.</i>


    Arun raised an eyebrow.


    <i>“This empty husk should not remain so. Succeed and I shall grant the means to survive. Do we have a deal”?</i>


    Arun had heard from his pack about deals with demons. They would come in the night to those that were found wanting, offering their greatest desires in exchange for more than they knew or could give. But what choice did he have?


    <i>“How do I help you”? </i>


    <i>“Consume. Eat till you''re satiated and then more”. </i>


    <i>“I-Is that all”? </i>


    <i>“Confident. But we shall see if you can satisfy my urges”. </i>


    Arun thought for a minute, letting his body float. The deal seemed too good to be true.


    <i>“Sir are you, and please don’t take this the wrong way…a demon”? </i>


    The liquid began to boil and Arun yelped as it singed his skin. Then it cooled and lowered till it was a puddle under his feet.


    <i>“You must wake”. </i>


    Arun’s eyes rolled to the back of his head.


    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….


    When he came to there was a lone Sun Guard rushing towards him, its spear pointed outward. Arun ran in the opposite direction, eliciting another chorus of boos and over-ripe bananas and tomatoes. He didn’t care. The hunger was overwhelming now. He grabbed one of the flying fruits out of the air and shoved it into his mouth.


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    “<i>More”, </i>the voice echoed inside him.


    Arun kept running, trying his best to grab more fruit as he went along. Goblins had to often settle for being scavengers in the outer wilds and deep desert, so he was used to picking up scraps and swallowing them whole before a predator caught sight of him. However, he was not used to people watching him in the act.


    The crowd laughed, some pointed, children seemed to enjoy the display the most. He did not stop running though, ignoring the humiliation. Eventually the onslaught of food stopped. The voice did not seem to care.


    “<i>More”. </i>


    Arun had nearly circled the entire arena now. A couple of times he’d caught a glimpse of Ruja. He had managed to take down five different Sun Guards since Arun had started running. If he wasn’t so busy fleeing for his life and trying to convince himself he wasn’t going insane…Arun might’ve been impressed.


    The Sun Guard chasing him changed tactics. It stopped, took aim and then threw its spear like a torpedo. Arun tucked and rolled, the spear grazed his back tearing off a chunk of flesh. Arun didn’t scream, he didn’t have time for that.


    “<i>MORE”.</i>


    <i>“I’M TRYING”. </i>Arun said out loud.


    Ruja finished up the Sun Guard’s facing him almost effortlessly. He charged forward at a breakneck speed, picking up the spear that the Sun Guard chasing Arun had thrown. He used it to vault himself into the air and came down hard on the guard’s face with his knee. It immediately evaporated. Ruja picked up its sword and raised it to the sky.


    “<i>Your Champion is here!”, </i>he proclaimed.


    Arun had made his way to the center of the colosseum. He knew that once Ruja was done gloating he would come for him. He picked up a dagger from the waist belt of an empty pile of armor. Then he turned to face his last opponent.


    Ruja made his way slowly, knowing that there was nowhere for Arun to go.


    “<i>You’ve done well. Surviving. But that is all you have done. This is a place for battle and battle is never won the coward’s way. Prepare yourself for death Goblin”. </i>


    The crowd responded to Ruja’s words with extreme enthusiasm. “<i>Death to the Goblin! Death to the Goblin. Kill the fucking Goblin”!</i>


    They were almost as loud as the voice inside him.


    “<i>EAT. EAT. EAT!”!</i>


    Arun’s stomach growled and contorted. He could feel his insides burning. His eyes were bloodshot and his mouth began to salivate. He looked down at the dagger in his hands. It had a serrated edge, its steel glistened and its ornate hilt was adorned with bright blue sapphires. It was then that Arun decided he had truly gone mad, because the dagger looked positively delectable.


    Unable to hold himself back any longer, he bit down on the blade. His teeth cracked, but to his surprise a piece of metal chipped off the blade and fell down his throat.


    <i>“That’s more like it”,</i> the voice said. “<i>More”. </i>


    Arun felt a small part of himself rejuvenate. Then his teeth began to clatter. Ruja was closer now, watching him with a confused look on his face. Arun took another bite. This time it was easier, his teeth felt stronger. He could chew the metal.


    By the time he’d finished consuming the dagger, hilt and all, Ruja was upon him. The Nalija picked up Arun by his throat and raised him high above the ground till they were at eye level. Arun clasped the hands that held him and struggled against Ruja’s strength.


    “<i>I do not wish for you to suffer though your visage and behavior disturb me. Hold still and it will be painless”.</i>


    A tear began to form at the edge of his bright yellow eyes. He did not want to die.


    “<i>P-pl-”.</i>


    Before Arun could beg for his life a strange sensation filled his body. He could feel his bones changing, hardening.


    <i>“You will not die. Not till I’ve had my fill”. </i>


    Arun looked at his pale white nails. They were no longer long, curled and chipped. They were sharp, serrated and they shined when the light of the sun touched them. Arun dug them into Ruja’s arm. He screamed, releasing the Goblin.


    Arun knew he needed to capitalize on this moment. He could not beat Ruja in a one on one fight. He jumped at him, grabbing a hold of his face and bit into his nose. He felt cartilage, flesh and blood fill his mouth. Ruja grabbed him by the hair and flung him as far as he could.


    Ruja tore off a piece of cloth from the rags he wore and tied it around his face in an effort to stop the bleeding. Arun clambered up and attempted another attack. This time he approached from a blind spot and ducked under his legs, biting into his calf.


    “<i>YOU FUCKING IMPUDENT CREATURE”.</i>


    Arun took a heel kick to the stomach. But the damage was done. Ruja buckled and left himself wide open. Arun’s muscles tightened, an instinct that he’d never had before took over. He pressed his fingers together and drove his steel nails into the lower spine of his opponent. Ruja dropped and a hush fell over the audience.


    A pool of blood spread itself over the hot sand.