Where all the captured witches are held. Powers are useless, as the talisman around their necks renders them helpless. You cannot remove the talismans, nor can you escape. Ever.

::Nilim shimmers in with Andrea and Justin. He throws Justin onto a bench, and uses a small energy ball to break Andrea's handcuffs. Smirking at all the weak, pathetic, trapped witches in the room, he shimmers out.::

::As Justin's head hits the hard bench, he comes to and looks around, disoriented.::

"Where the fuck am I now? Oh my God, Andrea!"

::Justin goes over to Andrea and begins to help her out of the chair.::

"Are you okay?"

::Feeling dazed from the shimmer, Andrea blinks and sways as she stands up. She stumbles and falls into Justin's arms weakly, looking up into his eyes.::

"What's going to happen to us?"

::Managing to get her legs back, and looks down at the talisman around her neck and suddenly grabs at it, trying to break it, pull it off, get rid of it somehow.::

"It's hopeless, you know."

::A soft voice speaks to the two new witches.::

"You'll never get them off. You'll never leave."

::Justin looks up in surprise when he hears Nalia. At first he thinks she may be a demon, but quickly enough, he realizes from the look of her (and the amulet at her throat) that, she is, most likely, in the same boat as them.::

"Never leave where? What is this place?"

(She's pretty in a rugged sort of way... what am I saying?!? I've been captured by demons and I'm checking out the other prisoners. Great. That's okay though, because she's nothing compared to Paz... who is, consequently, a demon. Anyway, back to the matter at hand.)

::Taking in a shuddering breath, Andrea looks around and sees all the other prisoners, looking run-down and tired, like Nalia. Her spirits fall even further and she looks at the woman who has spoken.::

"What's going to happen to us?"

"You'll remain here like the rest of us have. Until you die."

::She sighs sadly and sits down on the bench Justin was thrown on.::

"My name's Nalia. Welcome to Arena."

::Stefany is roughly shoved into the room by two warlock guards. She spits and curses angrily at them, her eyes livid.::

"I never see you two up there, you freakin' cowards!"

::She screams and drops to her knees as an electric volt attacks her body from the talisman around her neck, and glares as the doors are slammed in her face. She sits on the floor and stares for a while, before turning and looking at Nalia. Her eyes then glance towards the Recovery Room.::

"He's in there."

::Nalia quickly ups and hurries into the Recovery Room.::

::Serena gets up and follows Nalia. She pauses on the way, and looks at Andrea and Justin.::

"Perhaps this is the best way to show you exactly what you're in for. Follow."

::She walks into the recovery room.::

::Looking horrified at what she has just witnessed, Andrea can't help but stare at the new arrival Stefany. She is a very intimidating woman, who doesn't look all that old. Swallowing hard, she grasps Justin's hand.::

"Come on, Justin."

::She leads him into the recovery room.::

::Watching Andrea leave, Stefany glowers at the two newcomers, feeling angered by the former's lingering eye contact. She sighs and gets up, slumping down on a bench before leaning forward and putting her head in her hands. She heaves a big sigh and follows through to the rocovery room.::

::Stefany stomps back in and sits down heavily on a bench, glaring at the floor. She then walks over to the food table and grabs an orange, biting into it so she can peel the skin off, juice dribbling down her chin.::

::The minion bursts in, brandishing his amulet so nobody attacks him, and hurries into the recovery room.::

::Andrea runs into the room, looking around for any signs of Justin, but realising she's too late.::

"Oh god... Justin..."

::She tries to hold back tears and barely manages. Her back hits a wall and she slumps down it, falling into the bench below.::

(I didn't even try to stop him...)

::Stefany looks with some distaste at Andrea, and wipes her mouth.::

"I heard two guards talking, saying he's gonna be fighting Hekate. So dont worry, he'll be back reeeeeal soon."

::She snickers and plucks some grapes from a bowl, devouring them greedily.::

"What do you mean fighting?"

::Andrea is about to ask more questions, but is too intimidated by Stefany's presence and bitchiness to go closer. Instead she rushes over to the door and bangs against it.::

"I want to see Justin! Take me to him! Bring him back!"

(But not simultaneously cos, y'know, it'd be weird.)

::Just outside the holding bay, Cole pauses and waits for Chloe so he can give her a little more information before they go inside.::

::Chloe stops next to Cole and looks to him expectantly.::

(Andrea's probably... Can't blow my cover. Relax. You'll think of something.)

"Okay, so when we go in, hold up your control so you won't get attacked. They're usually pretty docile though. If they don't know their place, shock them or just smack them, whatever you feel like."

::He opens the door and walks inside, letting Chloe follow. On seeing Andrea standing so close, he pushes her back into the room with a smirk.::

"Get back, idiot. Let the adults talk."

::He turns to Chloe.::

"Sorry. She's new. Hasn't had her first fight yet."

::Chloe chest tightens as her eyes fall upon Andrea. It takes all of her control not to beat the shit out of Cole as he shoves Andrea across the room. She makes quick eye contact with Andrea and quickly breaks it, turning back to Cole.::

(And what happnes when her first fights turns out to be her last, hm?)


"So, is there any training involved, or does that take the fun out of it?"

"Chl-"

::Andrea quickly silences herself from calling out the name of her... supposed rescuer, hoping Cole didn't hear her. Having taken a rushed step forward to greet Chloe, she skids to a halt and falls back again.::

(What should I do? Should I pretend to know her? And what the fuck is she talking about? Oh god she's not... no... she won't be... she'll be here to save me...)

::A shiver slips down Chloe's spine. Oh, how she wants to run over and tackle and hug and kiss and tickle and... and... She restrains herself, keeping her gaze on Cole. Her fingers grip her pants in an attempt to keep her arms at her sides.::

(Andrea... Right over there. Yes, that's been established. But Andrea right. over. there. Go to her! No, don't. That would be blowing your cover, idiot. But... maybe... NO! Save, not stay captive and die with!)

::Cole backhands Andrea with a grimace.::

"If you dare speak out of place again, your punishment will be a lot worse. You could end up like Justin through there without even going up to the Arena."

::He turns away from her, dismissing her, and smiles at Chloe.::

"Now this is our current selection of witches, I'll let you browse around if you wish. Feel free to talk to them if you want, remember you've got your buzzer on you if you get into trouble. Would you like me to stay with you or leave for five minutes?"

::Grabbing at her face from when Cole hit her, Andrea tries to keep a lid on her pain, not used to such abuse. She looks pleadingly at Chloe, begging her silently to help her.::

(I have to act like I don't know her. If I blow her cover then she'll get stuck here too. That is, unless she's not undercover...)

::Chloe flinches terribly, her jaw clenched, her nails now digging into her hands.::

(Oh god... I'm so sorry Andrea... I'm so so sorry...)

::She keeps her gaze on Cole and forces a smile.::

"I think I can handle them on my own for a while."

(leave... leave... leave... leave... LEAVE!)

::Cole nods and glances around.::

"If anybody bothers the lady there will be trouble. For all of you."

::Smiling at Chloe, he steps outside to wait, closing the heavy door behind him.::

::As soon as the door closes, Chloe looses most of her composure. She moves towards Andrea, but stops, eyeing the other prisoners warily.::

(I doubt I can trust them enough to not squeal on me...)

"Are you ok?"

::She moves a bit closer to Andrea, trying her hardest not to hug or even touch her love.::

::Not really thinking about other people around her, Andrea runs forwards and falls into Chloe's arms, crying into her shoulder.::

"Oh thank god Chloe, thank god you're here. I don't know what this place is but we're all trapped down here."

::She moves back and touches the talisman around her neck.::

"This stops me using my powers and I can't take it off. I don't know how to escape, you have to do something!"

"Andrea... no..."

::She gently pushes Andrea away a bit, keeping her hands on her shoulders. She whispers softly, her voice cracking.::

"I don't think we should... Can we trust...?"

::Chloe doesn't allow the tears brimming in he eyes to fall. She searches Andrea's face for understanding.::

::Andrea looks around at the faces of the other witches, lingering on Stefany for a moment.::

"I don't see why not... we're all in the same boat... aren't we?"

::Fear strikes through her heart remembering the cold ways Stefany had spoken to her and she swallows hastily.::

"I..."

::Chloe's voice is low.::

"Tell me you agree... I don't want to make the whole thing worse... If I were to get caught..."

(I'd be another witc--- wait. I'm not a...)

::She jumps on her revelation.::

"All of these people are witches, right?"

(If they thought I was and I got myself captured... then I wouldn't have to hold back. I would be able to talk to her freely!

But if I was chosen to battle... Dammit. That wouldn't do us any good.)

"Well... yeah... I guess..."

::Andrea looks at Chloe curiously, wondering what's on her mind.::

"But we can't use our powers. I, it seems so hopeless. It seems like this is a huge establishment that, I mean, if these people have been trapped here for so long..."

"But they're all still here because they won battles... I don't know if I could... Hm."

::Chloe wrings her hands.::

::Stefany stalks over to Chloe and wipes her chin, regarding the two with a smirk.::

"Hm."

::She turns around and walks away.::

"You'll never leave this place, you know."

(There she is at it again. I don't get it, what, does she enjoy it here or something? Where does she get off being such a bitch?)

::Andrea tries to ignore Stefany's words and mutters under her breath.::

"Nobody asked you, moron..."

(Forever? Creepy...)

::Chloe suddenly remembers Justin...::

"Andrea... Justin... We was..."

::She inhales raggedly, releasing the breath through her lips.::

"I was him get... killed, Andrea."

"What??"

::Andrea's mind flashes back to Justin getting taken away, and Cole's words just a minute ago.::

"No, wait... I think I understand... follow me."

::She grabs Chloe's hand and rushes them through to the recovery room.::

::Chloe follows...::