The Inaugural Address

PART I - CHAPTER III

3.

"Philip! You can't run forever!"

My breathing was my main focus as I continued my steady sprint through the forest. Thankfully it was a cool day and the trees still had enough leaves to block out most of the warmer sunlight. I believe I managed to get away from all of Mabel's guards, but there was still one person I had to escape.

"It's just me, Philip! There's no one else, please... where are you going?" Brock called, and I was surprised he couldn't guess where I was running to.

I continued down the thin path Brock and I had memorized and maintained ever since we were kids. It was the only path I knew most people wouldn't be able to follow. We initially created it to get away from our classmates growing up, so it came with many dead ends and a few hunting traps here and there. We still rotated the traps to assure only Brock and I understood how to get all the way to the end of the path. It ended at a secluded opening on a cliff overlooking the massive lake, Lake Taupo, to the southwest side of the village and northwest side of the territory line. It typically was where we ran to contemplate life, our relationship, and now it was primarily maintained to privately discuss our thoughts on the rebellion.

My silence was enough of an answer. We arrived and I sat down on the swing we had hung up years ago. When pushed out to it's full extension, the swing actually jetted out past the cliff, a design choice we made admittedly during our chaotic teen years as an easy adrenaline source. Now I wondered if I could swing hard enough to get past the cliff myself, and potentially jump off at just the right time to make it so Alexandria, my twin, was an only child for good.

"Alright, you're miles away from everyone now. Will you please talk to me?" Brock asked, panting at the edge of the clearing we created.

I tried to gather my thoughts so that they could be expressed effectively in a sentence. That proved hard to do. I remained silent, looking toward the lake below as Brock caught his breath behind me.

"Luckily, I convinced Mabel's guys to leave me to talk you through this. But we can't stall forever, you're going to have to face this eventually."

I forced my mind to wander in an attempt to silence the intruding thoughts. I looked toward the Sagittiarian Territory's portion of Lake Taupo's coast, and wondered what my life would be like if I survived through the summer, when the lake is arguably the most enjoyable.

"You know, the memories we have here; overlooking the lake under starlight, creating this swing and nearly dying doing so, camping and having fires all night long, those are all behind us now, aren't they?" My voice remained emotionless as I continued to stare out past the clearing.

"Those memories will never go away," Brock began, his voice softer than before. "We can still make new ones one day too, no one can afford to let this rebellion go on forever. When it's over we can return." He began walking toward me. "Given what's possible, what would make this all easier on you?" He asked, hugging me from behind.

"Well," I said, clutching onto his arm. "Given how little we know about what's to come, I really need you right now." I said, trying not to get too emotional.

Mabel claiming me to be the rebellion's secret weapon was quite the assignment of responsibility. Never before has an Emperor or Empress had a known birth sibling, let alone a twin. What does Mabel think will come of the fact Alexandria isn't an only child? What will the rest of the nation think? I honestly can't imagine my existence playing out as significant at all -- that is, unless manipulated somehow to appeal to the rebellion. The fact that neither Brock or I are aware of the specifics terrifies me.

"What are they going to make me do?" I ask Brock, realizing now I didn't give anyone a chance to explain any sort of intention beyond what Mabel communicated in her speech. "Do they want to parade me around? Do they want me to help them invade the Imperial Mansion? Do I get any say?"