Fireworks 1 and 2

Jungle: Chapter Ninety-Nine

"When I was a girl my mother once told me,

That this world isn't fair.

You can't expect others to ride for you,

Can't expect others to care.

We have to watch out four ourselves,

That's to be certain.

And only once someone has earned our trust,

Should we pull back the curtain

Because...

There are those out there unafraid to take advantage."

    Mia lowered her microphone and looked out over the crowd. Then she raised the microphone back up to her mouth.

"Because...

There are those who don't feel guilt, not at all.

Those who wouldn't pull us down from that ledge,

Those who'd push just to see us fall.

Why oh why is this world so saaaaaad?

Why oh why all the injustices,

Why oh why all the madness?

Why oh why the tragic instances?

Why oh why all the sadness?"

    She moved forward, holding the microphone firmly in her hands with several voices running on a reel inside her head, multiple videos superimposed over each other. Tear came to her eyes as she remembered Chandra approaching her and Drake outside of the studio.

"Why oh why is this world so saaaad?" she sang quietly.

"Why oh why all the injustices?

Why oh why all the madness?

Why oh why the tragic instances?

Why oh why all the sadness?

Why oh why all the sadness?

Why oh why all the sadness?"

    She lowered her microphone and let her chin fall to her chest.

    A loud smattering applause bounced off of the walls in the All-State Arena. Many fans screamed her name. She turned her head and signaled to FutureThePrince, who cued up the music for "Violated."

    "There is a special girl who I'd like to dedicate this song to," she said into the microphone. "Her name is Chandra. She approached me and didn't want an autograph or a selfie. She just wanted to give me words of encouragement and support. Such a beautiful spirit, such a beautiful human being. It seems like these days, we make up any excuse to be at each others' throats. Whether it's political allegiances, or lifestyle beliefs, or discrimination, there is a growing divide between us all, and a growing disregard for human life. This is something that, as a society, we must work on, if we intend for mankind to survive. Life doesn't have to be as terrifying as it is right now. Instead of widening that divide, we can work to close it. Remind ourselves of our similarities instead of our differences. Find reasons to bond, instead of reasons to dislike each other. Right now, we're not even trying."

    The crowd went quiet.

    "I refuse to sweep any of this under the rug. I was fortunate, but there are many who aren't. This song is dedicated to anyone who has ever been bullied or attacked or assaulted or abused or wronged or betrayed or...or...or..." She hummed into the microphone. "This is for anyone who has ever felt weak, or maybe just not strong enough to stand up for themselves or protect themselves, or protect someone they loved." She started humming again and moved across the stage. She raised one arm into the air and launched into the song. To her surprise, some of the crowd rapped along with her. The song had been released less than twenty-four hours ago, and some of the audience already had the song memorized. She climbed down the steps leading down to the main floor and walked up to the front row, grabbing the hands of a few girls on the other side of the bar separating them from her. She rapped while moving across the front row, and even walked down the aisle, waving and smiling at some of the crowd who reached out for her.