Outside, the arena was filling up with spectators. It was midday and the fight was going to happen soon. As he went into the alley he could hear the gauntlet. As the gladiator stepped he stared at the people of Rome in mercy. As he turned the bright sun shone into his eyes and blinded him. The crowd roared like a pack of lions. Claudius had a gauntlet and a sword. The night before had been a restless one for Granados. Claudius had visited him in the dungeon. He had threatened Granados that even if he did win, he would kill afterwards. Granados felt sick as he walked further into the arena. It was a one to one, man to man fight. The gauntlet flew round, Granados ducked. Claudius and Granados battled it out.
The blood on the yellow sand was dissolving quickly. Claudius fell; Granados hesitated for a minute then brought the sword down into Claudius’ stomach and quickly yanked it out quickly as if he regretted it. Granados stood looming over the body like a tower. The crowd roared as Claudius took one last look at Granados and died. Claudius’ tyranny had ended. Granados suffered extreme injuries and lay on the sand gasping for breath. He was moving towards the next life. He lay in the sunlight his soft lips cracking. He took one last gasp and died smiling. He had at last joined his wife and children just as he had wished.
As the sun was setting on the arena. The day’s horror had finished. The blood shed onto the ground had disappeared. Claudius’ body still lay on the sand. The soft light shone onto the arena casting shadows. The beautiful sunset was pink and red and did not show the pure evil that had been committed in that place. As the temperature cooled the smell died. The prisoners were still wailing tomorrow they would be released. Most of Rome slept including the new emperor, the fair Augustus. As the sky darkened the stars twinkled in the blackness of the sky. Crickets croaked but all of Rome was quiet.
The next day the smell was worse Claudius’ body had gone and his head cut of and put on display in the main square. The new ruler had arrived his name was Augustus the name of Granados' father. He rode into the city on a huge elephant. He was greeted by his many Christian followers and ex. Slaves that Claudius’ had imprisoned. He came like the sum comes on an icy winter day. The gold bracelet worn on his arm was inscribed with the words ‘I will be ruler and I will succeed’ He entered the main square of Rome and stood before the coliseum. As children ran in the back alleys the Emperor still stood. Before him stood the statue of Granados the late gladiator who had saved Rome.
He asked his servants “Who was this man? Was he a great man?” His servants all replied “Yes master he was the one that saved Rome.” The Emperor smiled and said “then his statue will stand in Rome forever as a living memory of the brave Granados” No more games took place in that coliseum instead there were weekly markets and monthly festivals and carnivals. In Rome you would never here the sounds of dying or trapped people again. Instead you will here rejoicing and laughter for the fair Augustus rules forever.
