Chasing The Crown

Prologue

Belle

"Alright ladies! Can we have the Top 5 on stage please!" The stage director shouts.
That brings me back to the present moment,I'm in Poland and right now the new Miss Supranational is about to be crowned. I take a sip of my water and get up from the chair. I'm wearing a sparkling beaded body hugging dress,that's what the Supra team told us in the briefing a few months back. The evening round is all sparkles. I look in the mirror and make sure there is no lipstick on my teeth and then follow the other girls on to the stage. This place is packed! Seated at the back I smile at my sister,Mel the Miss SA chairperson and Mandla the creative director. They are waving the South African flag high and shouting my name,I'm grateful to have them here right now.

"Welcome back to the crowning of Miss Supranational..." the MC says to the camera as we go live.
I block him out because if I listen to him then I'm going to be a nervous wreck. The entire world is watching right now everybody crossing fingers for their favourite contestant. The Miss Supranational court consists of five ladies,meaning that we have all made it just there only needs to be one ultimate winner. If you told me a year ago that I would be chasing the Miss Supranational crown then I would have laughed at you.
"The 4th runner up is Zimbabwe!" The MC shouts.
The girl walks forward,gets sashed and crowned and then walks to the other side of the stage where the winners seat is placed.
"The 3rd runner up is Japan!"
She does the same and walks to the other side of the stage. I honestly expected to be the 3rd runner up,meaning they might call out my country next. I stand up straighter and smile. The MC announces the girls until only two of us are left. Me and the Botswana delegate. We turn to each other and hold hands.
"Good luck" I whisper to her.
She gives me a nervous smile and wishes me luck also. As the MC thanks the sponsors and mentions how many people are watching right now through which media broadcasters,the girl grips on to my hand really hard.
Ouch! I think to myself but I continue smiling like nothing happened. I'm sure that her nails are going to leave a scar.
"And the new Miss Supranational is..."
The crowd blurts either South Africa or Botswana at the same time. If I was not on stage right now I would be laughing.
"BOTSWANA!" the MC announces and the crowd goes wild.
She is already crying so I hug and congratulate her. Somebody sashes me and puts a crown on my head,I'm the first Runner Up. I smile and thank her then join the other ladies. When she finally joins us we all take turns in hugging and congratulating her then take pictures together. After this we are going to have interviews,mostly the winner which is a relief because I'm honestly exhausted. I'm very happy for her she deserves this win and I'm even more proud because she is the first black woman to wear this crown AND she is from Africa! I mean there are 3 ladies representing Africa in this court and I couldn't be more happier. Especially with the war currently going on between Rwanda and Tanzania. I hope that the leaders can see that nothing is more powerful than a united Africa,that's the message we should be sending out to other world leaders.

Andrew

"Hey Andrew the list of those getting depoted to Rwanda is out" My bunkmate says.
I already know that I'm on the list I'm one of the best soldiers and i am the captain after all. I get up from the canteen table and go check the notice board. And there I am. I smile at that. Many people become stressed after getting depoted but not me,what is the use of living anyway at least I would have died fighting for my country,there is honor in that instead of hiding in the castle and sending out other people to do my dirty work.

I head straight to my room to gather my stuff.
"They are going to pull you out you know that right?" Wesley my bunkmate asks as he packs his stuff also.
By "They" he is referring to my oh so loving family. Cowards that only served their country for a year and went to hide behind their royal titles. These past nine years I have been in the army they always pull me out when they find out I'm being deployed to dangerous territory,which drives me crazy which makes my father happy .
"Not this time. My entire team is going and I will not let you guys go alone that would be irresponsible of me" I say as I pack my stuff.
"Its a full on war out there" he says.
"All the more reason to go" I say.
He chuckles and shakes his head. We continue tidying up our things in silence.
"Its time!" The commander says hitting our door.
"Yes Sir!" We say in salutation standing still.
We take our stuff and join the many soldiers heading for the airplane,I'm secretly crossing my fingers that my family finds out about this after the plane leaves,then they won't have power to do anything. I take a seat and look at the many soldiers' sad faces,they are all silently praying to make it back alive. Im happy whereas they are sad,happy to fight for Great Virginia no matter what happens and they are sad because of the possibility they might not come back alive. After about thirty minutes of the pilots checking everything and me holding my breath so that I don't see my grandfather walk through that door and pull me out. The plane finally takes off and I can't help but smile.
"You are a sick bastard you know that?" Wesley says pushing me towards the window.
"I suggest you start praying and stop bothering me" I say as I take out a family picture of me,my mom,elder brother Nicholas,my dad and my twin sister.
His smiles fades looking at the picture in my hand,he nods and settles back in his seat. He knows my story.It's been 13 years without them and I still expect them to come back. One of the many reasons why I don't like my dad,is if my mom didn't find out he was cheating with his current wife then she wouldn't have got into that car with my twin sister. It's because of him they are not here today. My brother Nicholas has always been by my side but I couldn't trouble him with all of my problems he also lost a mother and a little sister but I'm happy he has found his happiness in Gwen,his wife. She is like a big sister to me also,she always tries to include me in everything that they do and sometimes I just feel like I'm gate crashing that's why I love being at base so much. My grandfather is more of a father to me than my biological father will ever be. People look at him and think he is a great man whilst he is only a murderer and a coward. My grandmother always made sure to play both roles in our lives and I adore her so much but the hole in my heart never goes away.