15 Years Later: Wasteland Read Online Free PDF

his strength was returning. He was starting to realise that this was nothing more than a gang holdout, but it seemed to be substantial and well established.
    "That Jay I saw earlier?"
    "Yeah, that was him."
    "What does he want from me?"
    "See you fight," she said, snapping the tin from him and slamming the hatch shut. She vanished from sight, and once again he was left to do nothing but let his mind wander to the horrors he had already experienced.
    Will this nightmare never end?
    As the sun went down, the arena above him became lit by fire from several different sources in all directions. He could hear a crowd begin to gather and knew what was about to happen. Once more he would be called to fight for his life, but this time there seemed no escape whether he won or lost. The noise grew louder as dozens and dozens of people excitedly gathered above the surface until finally a loud bell rang out. Large enough that it must have come from a church tower. Instantly, the noise died down to the level he could hear the footsteps of two people approaching.
    The grate above him was hauled out, and he was dragged up and thrown clear of the cell to land in the dust. He coughed and spluttered as he got to his feet and looked around. More than a hundred scruffily dressed scavengers surrounded him like wolves ready to tear him apart. But they waited and watched from seating. The two men who had hauled him out were drawing a gate shut behind them so that only he remained.
    It felt as though the vicious crowd might stone him to death. The thought of at least being given a chance to fight back didn't seem so bad now.
    "Welcome, my brothers!" a voice bellowed from the walls.
    Zed saw Jay sitting beside what appeared to be an improvised throne made from the leather seat of a luxury car. A torch lit each side of him. His arms were raised either side of him to address the crowd and rile them up.
    "Tonight I bring you something extra special. A fighting man, a warrior, a Marine!"
    The crowd erupted with excitement as they screamed and bellowed and clashed bars of metal together like some bizarre savages, but another strike on the bell brought them to a short silence. He could see the bell now. It was almost as tall as a man and mounted in a tower not far behind Jay and his throne.
    "It has been five years since we last enjoyed a battle with a Marine in this arena. A great challenge that was, and the last time I graced you with my presence on the floor of the arena!"
    They screamed aloud once again. Zed knew there were many pieces to this puzzle that he needed to put together. But right now if he didn't survive the night, it wouldn't matter. Jay went on.
    "But I would not think to rob you of a great contest. You don't want to just see blood, but a victory well earned. Before this Marine may challenge our champion, he must prove he is worthy!"
    All were silent as a gate was drawn back, and two men stepped into the arena opposite him. He recognised them immediately. The two who had ridden in the back of the truck to hunt him down, equipped with a ball and chain and javelins just as they had been before. He turned to Jay.
    "I don't want this fight! I don't want to fight any of you!" he begged.
    The arena was still silent as Jay glared at Zed.
    "Don't want to fight?" he asked.
    Then was a long silence before he began to laugh with a deep and booming tone. The audience soon joined him as they mocked and belittled him.
    "Then you will die!"
    The crowd clapped and clanged any piece of metal they could find against the burnt out cars and randomly thrown together barricades. It was nothing more than random noise. But it was loud, eerie, and distracting. It was also an intimidating situation. He looked around. Every face there seemed to want him dead, all but one, the wannabe schoolgirl fanatic.
    What a relief.
    "Begin!" Jay roared.
    A javelin was launched at him. It was thrown powerfully and with precision, but not quite enough accuracy. It missed him by