The Trials of Neo City [WINWIN • YUTA]

🖤 15. Therefore I Am 🖤

"Is there anyone special at home who you'll fight for? Family or friends, Renjun? Perhaps a crush?"

"No." Renjun's voice was defiant and unwavering and Sicheng watched the screen intently. His brother sat upright, glaring at the cameras and answering every question in as much secrecy as he could.

"Oh, that's a shame. It's just you and your brother, then?" Chris asked. Renjun nodded as the host continued. "So, you're alone in life? Do you think that the way your life has lead, you'll fair well in the Games."

Renjun nodded again and smirked maliciously. "This is where your life has lead you? How do you think you'd fair in the Games, Chris? Rather than me." He parroted Chris in a mocking tone.

Chris gritted his teeth and forced a smile. "You're quite inquisitive, I'll give you that!" He complimented, though his tone was like venom. Sicheng winced as Renjun only stayed silent.

"Um, Renjun! What are your thoughts on the games? Are you nervous?" Chris asked, Renjun only staring forwards.

"Your games are pathetic, Capitol. That's what I think." Renjun's face was blank as he sat straighter in his chair, chin tilted upwards. The crisp suit jacket he had been wearing earlier had been wrapped around his waist like a flimsy coat. His dark makeup only helped to accentuate his menacing demeanor.

Chris coughed nervously and shifted in his seat. His teased up hair was the only uplifted thing in the room as the crowd hushed. The host brought the microphone back to his lips as they quivered, barely noticeably. "Well, Mister Huang-Dong, it's quite an honor to be chosen for the games. Not many get this golden opportunity-"

And then Renjun began to laugh. His head was thrown back as his stony composite was thrown away, even for the moment. The noise rang through the feed as nobody uttered a word. He kept cackling, holding onto the armchair for support.

"Golden opportunity? Honor?!" He cackled, doubling over and staring at the camera lens, little giggles slipping through as he tried to control the delirium. "You think any one of us wants this? You think it's an honor? I would kill you here on the spot if I could, dickwad." Renjun spat, giggles ceasing, but a wide delusional smile playing across his lips, baring his teeth. "If it's such an honor, take my place. Do it." Renjun dared, opening his arms wide.

Angry Capitol people in the audience suddenly gasped and stood up indignantly from their seats. Chris groaned in exasperation.

"Petulant child! The Games are tradition!"

"How dare he!"

The crowd shouted and security attempted to hush them. Chris sat in his chair across from Renjun, who came down from his giggle fit and leaned forwards, almost as if he were interested now.

"When you do win, what do you plan to do?" Chris asked, attempting to steer this into a redeemable conversation that doesn't end in a shitshow of critique from the mouth of one defiant fourteen year old.

"I'm going to win this game and then I might kill myself. Who knows?" Renjun hummed without hesitation, sitting back with a satisfied grin. "Because even when I win, I don't. Everyone's dead, but me. It's fucking flawed. You don't deserve any survivors."

Chris shifted uncomfortably in his seat and looked wearily into the cameras. "Surely, you don't mean that. You've got so much life ahead of you!"

"Something I realized a while ago was that the Game doesn't matter." Renjun spoke bluntly, now sitting up taller in his seat. Chris raised an eyebrow, but allowed Renjun to continue to speak. The child looked into the cameras defiantly and lowered his gaze to a chilling glare.

"However; there is one goal I have in mind, before I kill myself off. When this is over, President Sooman..." Renjun spoke slowly, punctuating each word with a brief pause. "... I will kill you. I will destroy you and I will destroy everything you love."

Sicheng's eyes widened in fear. He didn't mean that... did he? Surely, even if his little brother won, he wouldn't target President Sooman like that, right after. That's insane, it's defiant, it's rebellious, it's-

Oh.

The crowd hissed and gasped and Chris cleared his throat as security guards approached the child. "Ahem! Well, thank you Mister Huang-Dong. It was an honor to speak with you tonight. May the odds, uh, ever be in your favor!" He spoke quickly as two security guards ushered the boy off of the stage and into the wings, Renjun's face returning to its usual stony scowl.

The security guards practically threw Renjun into their waiting room, muttering something about him being disgusting. The door was left open and Sicheng practically flew at his brother, grabbing him by the collar.

"Do you honestly find this funny?!" Sicheng snapped. "Your life isn't the only one on the line. Mine is! Mother's is! The people of Seven! The Capitol could order them all dead tonight, Renjun!"

Sicheng was beyond angry, looming over Renjun intimidatingly. Renjun wanted to pretend he didn't care, wanted to be aloof, but all he could do was stare, tears prickling at the sides of his eyes.

That was the first time Renjun had seen true fear and true fury in his brother's eyes. Sicheng was always level-headed, always calm. It scared Renjun to see him angry like this.

"You and I are gonna talk later. I have to do damage control for your ignorant actions! For once in your life, use your fucking brain." Sicheng spat, letting go of Renjun and shoving him before turning on his heel to leave. His heeled shoes clicked as he walked down the hall in haste. Renjun's tears fell silently, without a hiccup or even a breath. The room was deathly silent and Renjun could only stare forwards in a daze.

"What have I done?" Renjun whispered, though he was the only soul to hear it.