Fortune Favors the Bold

31

"I have to say," Chancellor Adira spoke elegantly, clasping her hands behind her back as she walked alongside the restrained convict. "It came as quite the shock to myself and all the others when you stepped through that door last night. I would not be honest if I told you I was expecting that blonde Orimasi girl to appear. Our system has never been as mistaken as it was last night."

He said nothing as the door slipped to a close behind them, their walk across the building bringing them to a large glass window that only revealed his own reflection in it. Slowly, Convict 286 lifted his gaze to peer at his own image in the glass, remembering the events of the night before with stunning accuracy.

After all, the blessing that ran up his spinal cord and into his brain never allowed the ex-soldier to forget –it didn't matter how much he wished to. Every moment of his life was etched in his mind to be retrieved at a later date when he was alone at night to haunt him.

So, he remembered how he'd lifted Kalani from the ground, struggling to carry her limp weight with the blood dripping from his hand. He'd left the other girl's body in its place when making his way down to the first level. They would come to clean the bodies up after him.

And he'd never forget the way the smiles of those who waited at the exit had dropped at the sight of him. But that he never wanted to forget. The games had always been rigged in Orimasi's favor. If they'd discovered both Orimasi Saviors had died, they would kill all the others before they had a chance to fight against their fate.

"This is Kalani Makoa of Vlasteri," he spoke loudly, making his voice carry into the night that surrounded them and clearly reach all those who stood in front of him. The ex-soldier's eyes landed on those of the Chancellor's, catching the growing rage she attempted to contain past her stone expression. "She is the fair winner of this year's Thysía."

A man pulled in a heavy breath, quickly turning to the Chancellor. "The winner was supposed to be Aurora Williamson. What is this nonsense?" He seethed.

Chancellor Adira lifted her hand to silence him, not breaking the eye contact she held with the prisoner that had been smuggled in the games in Castiel Brenden's place. "It appears we were mistaken," she responded. "This girl is the victor."

"Surely this is against the rules-."

"There are no rules."

"And the way you held her in your arms, I was sure she was dead. However, upon further observation, her vitals seem to be rather healthy and her reflexes are of considerable strength. I am not surprised she is the one you chose to keep alive. Though I wonder why you did not simply kill her off and collect all the money yourself." The Chancellor watched Convict 286 closely for his reaction, but his expression remained still in response to the statement.

He turned to her, not appearing to be bothered by the black cuffs that clasped his wrists behind his back. The ex-soldier wasn't a fool; he knew he'd be administered electric shocks through the pins that pricked his skin the moment he attempted anything that placed the Chancellor in danger. Even if they were the only two in the room, no one was ever truly alone with her.

"Why am I here?" He asked her, the way his head hung to the side and his eyelids remained heavy surrounding the man with an unbothered air.

The Chancellor smiled, turning to the black mirror just as it shut off to reveal the room behind. "I presume you would like to see our winner one final time," she said confidently, though her statement was littered with a smugness that he easily noticed.

Still, Convict 286 turned his head to follow her line of sight. Three men in white coats floated around the room, busy with endeavors other than the girl that remained unconscious on the steel table in their midst. His eyes lingered on her for a moment, noticing the wires placed on her temples. They were mostly concentrated on the right side of her head and stuck to the top of her neck.