The Rebel (#Wattys2016)

26. Knife Against Throat

As soon as they got to Baltimore's City Square, Adeen and Skander were separated. Some guards took Adeen to a tent, where she put on a blood red dress. Some stylists came in and did her make up, pulling her hair into a ponytail and making sure she was ready. They gave her some cards to read and instructed her when to give her speech. Then they led her outside. Two guards came to her sides and led her to the stage, where she finally saw it.

In the middle of the stage, there was a guillotine. Blood dripped from the blade, it's drops falling to the floor, and Adeen could swear she heard the steady dropping in the silence. People of all Castes stared at the stage, the higher Castes sitting on chairs and covered from the sun. The lower Castes stood around the Square. Their faces reminded Adeen of back home.

The guards took her to the back of the Square and instructed her to sit on a chair besides a throne. She obeyed and looked at the crowd. She swallowed, knowing too well how it felt to be in the middle of a crowd, under the sun, sweating and hungry.

A trumpet sounded and everyone stood up. Skander came into the stage, wearing a blood red uniform. His hair neatly combed back and his face grim. He walked to the throne and sat down, followed by the sound of a hundred people sitting with him. Cameras focused on him and Adeen.

Another man, with gray hair and bloodshot eyes came into the stage, his Guard uniform lined up with medals that glimmered as he bowed down. He saluted Skander, bowed at Adeen and turned to the crowed.

"Citizens of Illea, I am First Major Raze Whiteken. Today, I have the honor to be accompanied by our Glorious First Prince, Skander Schreave." Everyone applauded him and Skander nodded at them. "And Lady Adeen Orson." Less applause, but still more than Adeen deserved. "Today, we begin a new era. From this day on, our Glorious King has authorized a new punishment for those who threaten us."

Raze nodded and two guards went into the stage, carrying a girl with them. Her head hung low and her once-blonde hair was tainted with blood. Her feet dragged behind her. They carried her to the wood block, where they threw her at it. Her head hit the wood and blood came blushing out. A guard, after realizing she didn't have the strength to put her head on the block grabbed her by her hair and threw her head against the wood. She grunted.

"This girl was found in one of the many riots that have forced us to cower in our homes. She has confessed to killing more than six people. She has also confessed to planning the riots." The girl sobbed and her blue eyes settled on Adeen. She must have been fourteen. Adeen bit her lip, and she had to clutch her hands in order to keep amy emotion out of her face. The girl was younger than Adeen, she was a rebel as well, but she'd killed less people than Adeem. Only she'd die and Adeen would live. "She will be an example of what happens to those who threaten us. Today, we are pioneers, witnesses of a new era of peace and prosperity." Some High Castes applauded. Raze turned around and nodded at Skander, who stood up. "Your Majesty, you will have the honor."

Skander nodded and walked to Raze. He looked at the crowd, then at Adeen. He sighed.

"Today, we mark a new era."

Adeen knew it was her queue, and stood up in shaking legs. She remembered the phrases they'd made her learn by memory, and forced herself to say them.

"Today, we begin building a safe and prosperous Illea."

"One that will not crumble." Skander said.

"Under the pressure of terrorists and their radical ideals." Adeen said with a dead voice as she concentrated on the horizon. Anything to keep her from crying or doing something worse. Adeen finished the speech and walked to the front of the stage. She stood besides Skander.

"Today, we move forward." Skander finished, and with his jaw clenched, walked to the guillotine.

From closer, Adeen could hear the girl was repeating some words between sobs. 'I'm so sorry.' Adeen swallowed and diverted her eyes to Skander, who was now standing besides a lever.

"Do you regret your crimes against Illea and humanity?"

"I'm so sorry." The girl said, delusional.

Skander looked at the lever, put his hand on it. He sighed.

"Then may your punishment cleanse you from your sins."

He brought the lever down. The blade moved faster than ever and Adeen flinched at the sound of it against wood. She forced herself to look at the crowd as she heard the sound of the girl's head rolling. Blood fell on her feet, and through the holes of her high heels her feet damped.

Then, someone screamed.

Adeen located the person quickly, a girl around Liz's age with red hair. She screamed and pointed at Adeen, and just then Adeen felt two arms around her neck, a gun's barrel pressed against her temple.

Raze and Skander both took out their guns and pointed it at the person behind Adeen, who she could see was a guard, looking at the reflection of the bloody guillotine.

"One move and I'll blow her brains to the ground, Prince." The man said. Then he began pulling Adeen farther to the back of the Square. "Same to you, Lady. Try to fight, I'll kill you. Understand?"

"Yes." Adeen whispered, lightheaded from the loss of oxygen.

"Good girl."

The man led her down stairs, Skander's gun still pointed at him. Adeen stared at Skander, who kept his gun pointed at them.

"Don't do it." Skander said, and although his voice was as strong as ever, his gun shook.

"Oh, princeling. It's a little too late to turn back, ain't it?"

Skander's jaw clenched.

"What do you want? I'll give you anything."

The man pressed the gun tighter against Adeen's temple.

"A few years ago, when I wanted to change things, I would have taken that offer." The man continued pulling Adeen back, until they were at the edge of the crowd. "But not anymore. Thing's won't change. We're all fucked. Now all I want is to make you bleed as much as I did."

The man continued farther back until the edge of the crowd.

"Let me go or I shoot her."

Skander looked at him, Adeen, the crowd. Adeen stared at him.

"Skander." He looked at her. Adeen nodded slightly.

Defeated, he lowered his gun. He nodded at the crowd, which opened to let them through. Slowly, the man led Adeen through the bodies, their stench reminding Adeen of her childhood.

Women, men and children stared at her as she walked backwards, Skander in the back of them all. As they passed, the crowd closed, letting Adeen see only Skander's face. He was flushed and she doubted he was calm. He must have wanted to scream. So did she.

Scream bloody murder and rip the man to pieces.

But Adeen visualized her anger and imagined herself putting it in a box with a lock, the way she did before the Selection. Then she imagined sitting on the box. When the moment came, she'd stand up.

And God help the man.

Authors Note:

So... kind of a rushed chapter, but hey, Christmas is coming! Happy Christmas Eve Eve everyone! So I have a few anouncements:

1. I posted my first ever original story (The Human) so make sure to check it out! I update every monday!

2. I am going on a trip this saturday and won't be back until January 9th, which means I won't The Rebel update weekly.

3. Since I already wrote The Human, I will update that story weekly since I only have to copy paste it.

4. I wish you the best christmas ever and hope you have a day! 

Stay fabulous, Crista.