The Tears of Nero (The Halo Group Book 1) by Jason Brannon Read Free Book Online Page B

uncomfortable here and burdened down by a sense of unease unlike any he had ever felt before.  This was a bad place, and these were bad people.
    The lights went out again, and Henry heard chains rattling along with the mournful sound of weeping.  Someone was frightened.  Henry understood that feeling all too well.   
    When the lights came on again, the setting before them was very different.  The horsemen were gone, and the wild smell was no longer a mystery.
    The lions looked hungry.  Their ribs pressed against parchment-thin skin, and their manes were shaggy and matted.  Although the beasts were undomesticated, there was a wildness in their eyes that suggested a desperation for food which would drive them to do almost anything.  One of them roared, and the other three followed suit.   
    The frightened man kneeling before them obviously realized that as well.  He trembled at the sight of the beasts, and they advanced on him eagerly, sensing their first meal in quite some time.
    “This man has served God all of his life,” the voice in the balcony explained.  “We will let his life hang in the balance and see what God will allow.  The fate of this man will determine the fate of millions.  Will God save him or leave him to die?” 
    Henry couldn’t believe what he was seeing, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of the poor man who was about to be fed to the lions.  One thing about the man struck Henry immediately.  He wasn’t trying to run away.  Maybe that had something to do with being surrounded by a pride of angry lions.  Or maybe something else was at work here. 
    The man was frightened and made no effort to stop trembling.  However, he didn’t try to fight off the beasts nor did he try to find a way out.  He was resolved to his fate, saying a few final words of prayer to God as he turned his tear-stained eyes toward Heaven.
    It was a scene torn straight out of the past, from the days of the Roman Coliseum when Christians were routinely fed to lions.  Henry noticed the man was wearing a crucifix around his neck.  Why do bad things happen to good people?
    In the moment before the lions made their move, the martyr turned toward him and spoke a single sentence.  “God’s will is perfect.”  It was like lighting the fuse on a stick of dynamite.   
    The lions roared and reached the Christian before the lights went out again.  Within seconds, the underground amphitheater was filled with the sounds of screaming and torture.  The spectacle was too much to stomach, and Henry covered his ears, hoping to block out the sound of wailing.  The screaming was short-lived, and in less than a minute the lights came back on again.  The arena was empty save for a pool of blood. 
    Henry scanned the place for any sign of the Christian, praying that the man was still alive.  That was when he saw a masked figure studying him from the highest point in the room, sitting on a rock throne like a king presiding over the blood sport.  It was the speaker from the balcony.  Aware that he had been spotted, the figure nodded to Henry and took a modest bow.
    It was the last thing Henry remembered before he felt someone press a chloroform-soaked cloth over his face. 

 
    Chapter 6
     
    The dam holding back the memories of the lions, the carnage, and the death of that poor man was blown up in that instant.  The resulting deluge of horrid images came flooding back. 
    “I remember now,” Edward said.  “God help me.  I remember.”
    “I wish I didn't remember now,” Sadie said.  “We’re in deep trouble here.”
    Henry cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention.  “There is a murderer on this island, and he will do as he’s promised.”
    “The problem’s even worse than that,” Franklin reminded them.  “Nero wasn’t acting alone at that house on Archibald Street.  Seneca helped him.”
    “Why does the name Seneca sound so familiar?” Henry asked, still struggling to put the