Division-A

Episode Thirty Three. (July 6th, 2123. Division-A, South District.)

Akino stood on the stage, tense with anxiety as he looked out at the sprawling Colosseum encircling him. To his right was Matoi, ahead of him was Hideyo, and beside her was Makina. Ahead of them all however, was Hetsu in the middle with a microphone held close to her lips. The massive television behind them powered on, displaying Hetsu's determined, powerful expression. The audience was packed, people pushed shoulder to shoulder. Sakagami, Yukino, and Miki were sitting together in the back, watching down at the stage.

The screen standing above the stage changed, displaying the name of the city in big bold letters as Hetsu began her speech. The brightness of the lights increased, the heat from the bulbs pointed straight at the five. Akino's back sweat from the heat, his haunting thoughts getting louder as the audience was silenced by Hetsu's introduction.

"Humanity has been held in a cage for so long, its almost impossible to imagine a world where mankind spread evenly among the planet. Division-A is our safe haven, and yet the restricting borders have encouraged man to conspire against each other. Misinformation is spread, testimonies are falsified, and paranoia is spreading through the districts like wildfire. In a time so divided, we must reflect on the common goal that brought us together, the fear of extinction. Your safety has always been in my best interests as your Royal Ambassador, and yet my execution of such duty has been less than perfect. I have failed as a politician, but I have not failed as a person whose heart yearns for a better future."

Matoi's eyes were locked on the woman's flopping lips, her attention captivated by her intriguing choice of words. The streaks on her tight uniform pulsed with her hefty breathing pattern, her forehead perspiring from the built up tension.

"I have kept some crucial information from you, and for that I strongly apologize. No longer, though, will I keep my fellow man in the dark. If I shelter you from the secrets of this world, then how can I trust us to rise against them? That is why I scheduled this conference, to come clean to you all."

Akino gulped, a shiver climbing up his spine and tingling through his limbs. His head became light, the weight shifting to his churning stomach and his racing heart beat. He focused on the audience through the camera flashes. Their faces were stern and restrained, leaned in close to every word.

On the spur of the moment, Hetsu choked on such words. Her wrinkled face shrunk up in agony as the crowd in front of her stared in confusion and concern. Her cold, veiny hands slid from the pole holding the microphone, swaying back and forth.

"..."

Blood poured out onto the stage, splattering uncontrollably. Akino looked up at Hetsu, breathless. Matoi pulled out her blade, sending blood spewing out all over her. Hetsu grabbed the open wound in her gut, choking on the blood in her mouth and then collapsed to the ground.

"I've had enough of your lies," Matoi declared.

"Master!!!" Hideyo cried.

Matoi flung her blade back, splattering more of Hetsu's fluids. The wind picked up, whipping her hair back to reveal her blood covered, crazed smirk. She stomped on Hetsu's head as she approached the mic. Everyone watched in horror.

Yet more dead silence.

"...Matoi..."

Sakagami, Yukino, and Miki were frozen in the audience, trembling. The massive screen behind the stage was focused on Matoi's face, her neon blue eyes glowing ominously. Akino watched, his horrified eyes sinking into his face. His skin paled and dropped in temperature, his hands shaking and dripping in sweat. Frozen in fear, he watched with spotty vision. White streaks flew through his retinas, each with brief memories of a child's life; one of a red sky, another of a city full of screaming people.