Edge Of Destruction

Chapter 24

Arianna's POV

I grit my teeth as I feel the stylists rip at my legs. My face scrunches at the pain that follows. I should be used to waxing but I am not.

It has been two weeks since the kiss with Caleb. I made sure to not leave my room during the two weeks. I ditched physical combat and ordered room service everyday. But one thing that infuriates me is Caleb didn't even try to find me for all he knows I could have been dead. I know I walked off but all I really wanted was for him to chase after me, stand in the pouring rain and scream I'm in love with you. Did I just say love? Yuck.

Today I am going to see the effects of the serum. I don't know what the point is because the serum does us good. It maintains peace and stops rebellion and revolution. Wait, if every 18 year old is injected then why on earth do the insurgents exist? Why is my father a rebel? He should be the perfect citizen to the royal family. Everytime I think I am coming close to the truth something thrusts it's way in and I always end up back at square one. Not this time because I am Princess Arianna Caitlyn Swift, a broken teenage girl, who would kill to protect the people she loves.

Currently I am sat with a group of stylists who are ripping away at the hair on my body and concealing the dark circles and paleness of my face.
"Excuse me, Do you know where Caleb Hart is?" I ask. They shrug and concentrate on their work.

I fiddle with my daisy necklace. I don't know why I am so attached to this. It was a present from someone special, a little token of gratitude.

After what felt like forever the stylists chirped praises to each other and fluttered out presumingly proud of their work.

Cautiously I turn to the full length mirror and a face stares back at me. This girl in the mirror looks tough, fiesty and strong. She has a black outfit with a bulletproof vest and a small holder, which she places her gun in. Her face has this look of demand but screams smoking hot at the same time. The way the dark colours highlight her eyelids and powder covering her imperfections. Her lips are painted a natural rosy colour and look plump - kissable even.

This girl looks nothing like me but she is me. She is not Arianna, the pampered princess, and she isn't Caitlyn, the abused child. She is something more. She is someone who will re - write history.

After snapping out of my daze of being completely awestruck at my reflection. I fumble around my room and make my way down to where I think the assembly hall is. When I eventually reach there, it is surprisingly quiet. However, I am met by a beautiful little girl - she looks like she can't be over the age of 6. I manouver over to her and crouch down until I am at her level.

"So what's your name?" I smile stroking her blonde locks.
"Meredith," she smiles shyly.
"Well Meredith, where is your mummy?" I ask tickling her.
"My mummy lives with the angels," she says smiling. My heart cracks at her statement, she doesn't even understand what she is saying.
"My mummy does too," I sigh.
"You're pretty like a princess," she laughs.
"You are even prettier and lots of people say I am a princess," I say giggling.

"Arianna, what are you doing?" a voice asks stiffly.
"Nice of you to talk to me again, Caleb," I say bitterly.
"Meredith, where's Roxanne?" Caleb scolds the child.
"I don't know," she replies.
"Leave her alone," I chirp in whilst swinging her off the ground.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't hurt my sister," Caleb smirks slightly.
"What? You have family?" I ask shocked.

In that moment, a girl around my age appears. I vaguely remember her from somewhere. She shoots me a sad smile and I remember. She is the girl from the apartment when I was kidnapped. She is Roxanne.

"Come on, baby sis," She says pulling Meredith off me.
"Bye Meredith," I wave.
"Bye Princess," she waves back.
"Bye Arianna," Roxanne smiles.

Both of them walk off and I am left with a smirking, teenage boy.

"I assume Roxanne is your other sister," I state.
"Yup," he says.
"How? They are so nice and pretty and you are just you, in the nicest way possible," I smile innocently.
"Funny," he says sarcastically, "as much as I would love to go over my family tree with you. We have a serum to see."

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I scrunch my face in disgust as I stare out the window. The roads are broken and crumbling. Litter scatters on the floor and rabid animals eat the waste of garbage food. I gag at the sight of a dead rat, with velvet blood everywhere, lying on the pavement.

It's hard to believe that this is my country. I always knew our country was rich, filthy rich actually. We had a good foriegn trading system, people paid their taxes and other countries were paying their debts towards us off. We have good allies so where is all the money going?

Surely my parents aren't hoarding it for themselves? From what I have been told is that the citizens had more than enough to live on. But from what my eyes tell me that statement is incorrect. I think carefully the royals never work a day in their lives but always have stacks full of money. This can't be a coincedence. If the royals are corrupt enough to keep money then the horrifying reality is what else have they hidden?

Unfortunately I am ripped from my thoughts by a sudden jerk of the car. I am sat in the passenger seat next to Caleb, who is driving. Jalen, Troy and a man I don't recognise are squished into the backseats. Jalen glares at me when I turn around but I return it with a victorious grin. I have come to enjoy our little game of irritating each other.

Another jerk in the road, shudders in my body.

"Will you drive properly?" I yell.
"The royals haven't fixed the roads for thirty nine years," Caleb replies almost spitefully.
"Caleb..." my voice wavers.
"Look at what people have to live through. It is even more disgusting that you are oblivious to it," his words bite into my soul.

I stay silent.

Saying the ride was uncomfortably awkward would be an understatement and I am glad that it's over. But now, I have to face the threats of tortured citizens who are blood thirsty for revenge.

Maybe I shouldn't have come but I had to. I had to find out what the serum was like. I had to unravel the truth and I will...

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Omg!!!! Long, super long chapter. Intense action. The tension between Arianna and Caleb is killing me.

Ahhhhh. How did you like it???

Vote and comment. Pretty please with a cherry on top. Don't be a silent reader. Share your theories.

Bye
Amina
15Princess04