The Heroine [COMPLETED]

24. Showdown

IT WAS THE DAY. The administrative team stood in the center of the platform, around a circular table. Everyone was dressed very gracefully for this not-so-graceful event that will involve light bloodshed. All the students sitting on the sidelines in perfect lines were anxiously fiddling with their crispy school uniforms which consisted of a plain white button up and a navy blue skirt for females, and pants for the males. This was the first time they were wearing it, and possibly the last.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Annual Sword Ceremony. This moment is yours. We are here to guide you, and watch you. We will ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to prove their skills. Today, we are the side characters, and the stage belongs to you all. I hope you all bring a wonderful performance. Use it to shine and prove yourself!" Headmaster DiCardio passionately projected. But the response was a half-hearted applaud from the audience. Alexandra felt herself sicken with silence. She had a unnerving feeling once she thought about how everyone's fate was controlled by the few, eight to be exact officers. In retrospect, she was almost thankful that she didn't show up for the last Sword Ceremony. She hope she could escape once again.

"Now, for the first pair, I would like to invite... Senior Brett Kendall against Sophomore Xavier Craig. Cheer for them." A round of applause broke out in the audience, with slight relief that they weren't the chosen ones. Brett smirked with confidence as he strolled forward with Xavier walking up from the other side. The battlefield was to the center right, not clear enough for you to see the entire scene, but enough for you to be able to tell the winner. Xavier didn't have any emotion on him. "Try me, loser." Brett whispered, a bit too loudly at him. Xavier simply ignored him, and walked straight into the left corner where he started to do his warmups. Brett scoffed and walked to the opposite end to do his own warmups.

Alexandra watched intently, hoping Xavier would beat him out. He was a quiet person, but quiet nice. He was the few that did not make fun of her or exclude her from the group, although he never approached her either. But nonetheless, she knew he was a decent person. Hopefully, he can win. After four minutes, a loud high pitched voice went off, and they carried their swords to the starting position. They both posed in their ready positions, waiting for the signal to go off. Beep, beep. They lounged at each other at approximately the same time, with Xavier having the slight upper hand. He used the length of his sword, the Varsity 222X to his advantage by constraining Brett's motions with his medium length Earl X.

Brett immediately got out of his trap, but failed short in speed as Xavier lounged his next attack—at his neck—a crucial moment. But, as if Brett has been waiting for this moment all along, he turned around, and swung his sword forcefully towards Xavier, brutally knocking off his sword to the ground. Xavier stumbles back a bit and Brett takes this chance to slide his sword over Xavier's neck, finishing him.

Slowly, the students saw a head fall delicately onto the soft ground, his sword next to him. Moments later, Brett Kendall emerged from the battlefield with a victorious smile on a face that Alexandra would forever hate. In the audience, no one reacted. Most people expected Brett to win, but of course, some wished he wouldn't. After all, he has never been so much of a great person. Nonetheless, he won, and Xavier had been slain.

Sometimes, the evil don't always get defeated.