As Above (So Below)

Chapter Six: Aversion

 The train stopped, but the cheering only got louder. The sounds of laughter and taunting were like grating metal on metal. It was an off-putting, nausea-inducing thing to hear thousands of people weep with glee over the death of children. Suguru believed he was already as angry as he could be, but this unlocked a newer, deeper feeling inside him. Stronger than anger, meaner than rage. Suguru had pure, unbridled fury inside him. If not for the single fact that if he took even one step at the crowd he'd be shot, he'd launch himself into their claws immediately. Unfortunately - perhaps fortunately - Suguru had far too much to lose.

It had only been a day, maybe a day and a half, since he'd left home. Thirty-six hours at most since his designation changed from human to sacrifice. And yet it felt as though Suguru had spent months away from. He was already a different person. He imagined, as much as he didn't want to, Nanako and Mimiko. Mimiko would run her hands through Nanako's golden hair and let the braids loose. They'd curl up in one of their beds, clinging to each other, crying. Mom would shutter the windows and lock the doors. Dad would come to terms with the fact that he was going to lose Kei again, this time as a son. The entire town knew they were in mourning, mourning someone who had yet to die. How sick and twisted it was to plan a funeral for the living, for someone they'll never see again?

Yu herded everyone off of the train. Yuki used herself as a barrier between the bejeweled hands of the onlookers, shielding the faces of her tributes as they walked towards a large armored car. Flashes of cameras and the sound of lenses trailed behind them. They were desperate, hungry for something. A smile, a wave, maybe even a fuck you, but Suguru kept his head straight and his eyes forward. He'd done his minute amount of begging earlier, his tiny plea. He wouldn't sell himself to these people to ensure his survival. If Suguru were to win, it would be on his terms, not those of the glitter-faced freaks clamoring at his back. Neutrality was the best option. While Suguru could convince people of things if absolutely necessary, his usual demeanor left far more up the imagination. He had an incredible poker face, and while his micro-performance at the Reaping surely stirred someone, it's much more interesting when someone's hard to read.

Waiting at the car door was a group of glowring Peacekeepers. Shiny armor, ugly masks, same shoes. Everything was exactly the same, except for the guns. They were pristine. Sparkling. Unused. None of these men had ever had to field strip a rifle to clear the residue that came with gunning a man down. None of them ever had to look through the scope of their weapon and justify hitting a living, breathing human target from two-hundred yards. These Peacekeepers had pink ledgers, while the ones back home were dripping red. And while those before him had visibly stronger armor and laser sighted weapons, they scared him far less than the ones he'd left in Seven.

The guards ushered the four of them into the vehicle. It felt heavy, like if someone drove it at a reinforced concrete wall, the wall would lose. The leather beneath Suguru was slippery, freshly waxed. How considerate. Hanami and Yuki sat in the back seat, and to Suguru's shock, Hanami actually engaged in what sounded like hushed, helpful conversation. Yu sat next to Suguru, tapping his foot erratically on the carpeted floor of the car. The driver took their time pulling out of the station, and used extra caution so as not to run over the hundreds of people still milling around. The Peacekeepers stayed behind to quell them, forcing them to wait for the next train.

Yu pulled back the sleeve of his suit - pinstriped white and green with diamond buttons - and revealed a massive watch. One, that when examined, elicited a very deep and drawn out sigh. The car gathered speed once away from the station, flying past building after building. Glass, steel, concrete, all of them tall and beautiful. The midday sun reflected off of the windows of the skyscrapers in pieces of gold and yellow. For a moment, Suguru forgot where he was. He despised everything about this place, he would be lying if he said it wasn't well designed. However, the labor and life toll that it must have taken to get to this point painted everything a muddy gray.