He falls sideways, finally able to grip his neck but he’s choking on his own blood, coughing and spluttering. I haven’t got time to watch him die slowly, looking to the side of him I know what I need to do.
I lean in real close to his face making sure I have his attention in his last moments.
“What you weren’t told is that when I’m triggered I turn reckless, lose all emotion, all control. I don’t care what I do when in that state.”
His eyes are wide trying to process my words.
“Unluckily for you even though you couldn’t fuck with my mind, someone already had, now I’ll see you in hell,” I scream as my fingers wrap around his knuckle duster and I smash him in the face over and over again.
For attacking me.
For doubting me.
For touching me.
I’ve made the world a better place without this monster, but this place is filled with monsters.
I guess it’s going to be my job to wipe them out.
They pushed me. It’ll be their own doing.
Dropping my fists, I sit back from his lifeless body, trying to calm myself down, but I remember what I need to do now. Racing to grab both daggers, I try and wipe blood from my eyes to see what direction I even need to turn. It takes more time and effort than I’d like to climb up, but I make it nonetheless. I’m barely aware that my sports bra is hanging as a rag off my shoulders, showing my rack to everyone, my focus is to cut this rope.
I don’t even look at what state both girls are in, and I don’t question how reckless my next decision may be but I stand on the block, raise both daggers and slice both of the thin ropes at the same time. I hear their bodies drop to the ground, but I sink to my knees catching my breath and trying to gain as much energy as possible.
Wiping my eyes again I look around me. The crowd is screaming and clapping. It’s not a fucking happy victory, why would you applaud this display of violence.
“Luna.”
Barely a whisper reaches my ears and I search around. Red is lay flat on her back trying to take a full breath, I throw myself at her side checking her over.
“Breathe Red, just breathe you’ll be okay,” I assure her.
Tears fall freely down her cheeks.
“I’m so sorry Red, so sorry that you were dragged into this. I’m going to make them pay, every last one of them.” Determination laced in every word.
Feeling movement around me, I see Maverick.
Maverick Miller is my current favorite person in this place.
He has an oxygen mask which he places over Red’s face and a towel which he hands to me. I try to wipe the blood from my face but it’s a little difficult to get it under control, I think stitches are in order. Glancing down my chest, blood pours there too but not as bad as my face.
“I’ve got her from here Luna, they’re waiting for you to address the room,” he murmurs and carries her away.
Address the room? For what? What do they want me to say? Thanks for watching my soul burn to ashes?
I climb down slowly trying to show as little pain as possible. Reaching the bottom, I see a top held out for me, looking up to see where it’s come from I find myself falling straight into Kai’s eyes. The love and admiration I feel in the air from him has me wanting to break down and let him console me, but I refuse to let that happen.
I take the top with a nod, throwing it on without removing the sports bra.
“Ladies and gentlemen I give you Miss Luna Steele the winner of The Death Pyramid trial,” Mrs. Dietrichson announces to the room.
She’s trying to not sneer at me so openly but she’s struggling.
“Miss Steele, how do you think you will fare in The Games in December after today’s experience?”
I take a moment to look around me and process what she just said. So, The Games are in December, that’s three months away. Everyone is staring at me waiting for an answer, whilst also taking in my current state.
I snatch the microphone out of her hand, done with her fake shit.
Raising the microphone to my lips, I let the darkness continue to wash over me, needing it in this moment. I lift my other hand with my daggers gripped tightly and point them at Rico and my mother. They’re behind all of this I know it. They are part of the darkness and I’m sure there’s a lot more of them, but they are the ones who came at me. My own fucking mother and that vile piece of shit.
I’m going to make them regret it. Make them all regret it, and I’ll start by making sure the weakness of my past is no more. Even if that means I stay in this current state of mind forever.
My voice void of any emotion booms through the speakers.
“My father once told me, never tiptoe through life Luna. Let them hear every motherfucking step you take, Meu Tesouro." I pause to catch my breath, making sure my mother can feel my eyes burning her skin. "With that said here’s your warning, I’m fucking coming for you.”
Epilogue
(Kai)
I hand her my shirt, grateful she accepts, but my Sakura isn't in there right now.
What I just had to witness will never compare to what she endured.
The way she was able to gain allies in such extreme circumstances
