The Trials of Neo City [WINWIN • YUTA]

🖤 9. Sorry Not Sorry 🖤

Sicheng stood at his chariot, two Avoxes helping him into the large vehicle. A bronze chariot with paint resembling light rust and a smoothed wooden interior. There were, of course, two soft seats of birch wood, cushion. and faded crimson leather. Pulled by two stark black horses, it looked much more majestic than Sicheng had thought it would be.

The two sat restlessly and Sicheng was really hit by the realization that this was the kind of event he always saw on the broadcast. This had been his favorite part of the games; he always loved the opening ceremony, seeing the outfits and the chariots and tributes. It usually gave him hope but tonight as he sat in the position he thought unthinkable, a sickly, despairing feeling pooled in his stomach.

The chariots pulled away slowly as the announcers muffled out a "District Seven: Lumber". The jolt of the vehicle nearly made Renjun fall as the horses began to trot on, right behind District Six's train themed chariot (which both brothers found sort of lame in compared to how sleek theirs was). Sicheng focused on what Lay told him, smiling and waving cutely at the crowd as the chariot pulled forwards, his other hand grinning his axe tightly at his side. Cute semi-smiles all around as Renjun refused to pull any faces or even look at the cameras.

Down the main avenue as the crowds screamed and watched them, cameras and drones bombarding them to get every angle and every emotion, neither brother truly giving any real feelings up. Sicheng had to remember to stay guarded, as he knew he couldn't trust anyone. He also wasn't used to the wacky, strange outfits of the Capitol citizens, large wigs and exaggerated makeup, flamboyant coats and attitudes. The fashion still unsettled him a little.

The ride seemed to take forever and every so often Sicheng looked behind him to make sure that the District Eight chariot followed behind. Not that he gave a shit about them, but that seeing others in his place was comforting in a way; the feeling tethered him back to reality.

Eventually they approached their destination: a large cul-de-sac in front of a large building looking up to a golden box. Citizens screamed on the other side of the road's barrier and Sicheng felt nauseous again.

An older man stepped from curtains behind the golden balcony and Sicheng paled; the man was President Sooman, the most powerful man in Panem. Sooman stood regally looking down at everyone without so much as a smile, stoic face and narrowed eyes. Renjun scoffed beside Sicheng, unimpressed and pissed off.

The man cleared his throat into a microphone as the last chariot arrived. He stood facing the masses and raised his arms to begin some rehearsed, half-assed speech that Sicheng wasn't really listening to. As the President finished his speech, the Capitol clapped, most tributes clapped, and in turn Sicheng felt pressured to give a polite clap, looking upwards where the President was speaking to two officials, back turned and hands behind his back.

Renjun picked up his axe as the President turned his back, grinning and holding it in his calloused, tiny hands. Gingerly, he held the axe like he'd known to do back in Seven, as if he were to chop wood. Slowly and dramatically, however, it raised higher than poised to do chores. Sicheng's eyes widened in fear and anticipation.

Renjun aimed carefully, holding his axe towards the President's golden box above everyone. He reeled back the weapon as if to throw it, the crowd gasping as his hands flung forwards and stopped dramatically.

Sicheng was speechless that his brother would even mimic executing President Sooman. Renjun shot the cameras a sick smirk and put his hands down slowly, making eye contact with Sicheng himself. The oldest brother was livid, a thousand thoughts and angry words towards Renjun swirling through his head.

The insane amount of danger he'd put them in -the danger he put their mother in... was he out of his mind? The President's back was turned, but rest assured he'd find out about this sooner than Sicheng would like.