by Olivia Arndt
Words failed me as I considered what he was suggesting. I could go back to the way things were before they had died. I could have a normal life and get them back. I’d have the possibility of getting married, and even starting a family of my own. I could have everything I had ever dreamed of as a child, everything I ever knew to be true would fall back into place. There’d be no uncertainty, which I seemed to be drowning in these days. Yet, I’d have to betray everyone who had given so much to get me here. Sugar, Mary…Griffin. Oh gosh, Griffin. I’d have to leave him behind; I’d have to turn him in to be killed. All those Outsiders and Standards, they’d die. But what if I could make it better? What if this was the peaceful solution I had been searching and asking for all along?
“I have one condition.” I started, trying out this new approach. “The rebels and Griffin all live.”
He sighed, shaking his head, “My dear child, I have no problems with the Standards who were tricked into this horrible concept of revolution living. Even the Outsiders as deceitful as they were! They are simply thieves who couldn’t see the powerful manipulation through the pain of their starving, and suffering.” He gently took my hand, looking at me like a father comforting his scared child would. “But I am afraid I cannot let him live. Mr. Chainbreaker has committed far too many crimes against Lieu, including the murder of the very people you are vowing to protect. He belongs with all of the other Fugitives, dead and forgotten.”
“But…” I was at a loss for words. So much fighting prevented, so many lives saved for the price of one. From an outside view, the choice was obvious, simple even. But picturing a life without him, I just…I couldn’t.
“Tethys, I understand that you have developed some form of feelings for Mr. Chainbreaker, but I cannot let him drag you in this far just to hurt you, or anyone else for that matter.” He added, taking my hands in his once more. “I can assure you that whatever Stockholm syndrome you have established towards him, he does not return.”
“Y–you’re lying…he,” I stopped myself, realizing he had never actually said it. I couldn’t justify him at all. Didn’t he love me? A voice in the back of my head whispered, “What if he was using you?”
“Am I?” He asked innocently. “Maybe, you are lying to yourself, it seems you have a hard time telling when someone is lying.”
I opened my mouth to speak but quickly shut it again, biting my lip. He was right…how was I to know if he was lying and not Griffin? Stop it! He’s just trying to confuse you.
“It’s problems like these that the ranks stop from occurring.” He sounded so sincere. So reassuring. I believed him. I didn’t want to believe him. “You could be with a lovely Standard right now, one that can actually say he loves you. One that is not just using you for what you can give him.”
Frustration settled in me, and I raised the dagger again. His dagger. “I don’t believe you.”
His eyes betrayed him as the true fear showed for a second, “I–I wouldn’t do that if I were you. I have people–”
“You talk too much,” I said pushing past him towards the control buttons.
“What are you going to do with that?” He asked, laughing.
“This.” I pressed a bright button that matched the description that they had given me and saw my face looking back at me. It worked.
“No don't–”
“Citizens of Lieu, my friends, family, and people. Our leaders have been lying to us, they kill for no reason as you have seen. I stand here with the man behind it all, who just sent people to kill all of the innocent Outsiders. People with less than us, yet kinder than we could ever be. Nothing he does is for us, it’s all for him. So stand up, we’re taking back what should have been ours all along. I have your leader, Sentinels, you have lost. Surrender now or face the consequences.
“Love is so many things, it’s wonderful, it’s confusing, it’s magical! Not something you can force people into. It just happens! Don’t you want to choose? Insiders! Don’t you want to have the freedom to be songless, and feel good about it? They’ve made so many mistakes, and just blame them on you. And it’s time we fought back. It’s time we did something for once, actually questioned them for once! This is the start of a new era. One with freedom, and real solutions. I am not the leader, and neither is this guy. For once you are in charge of yourselves. Sincerely the Rebels.” I pressed the end button, feeling accomplished. The entirety of Lieu had heard that broadcast, and there was nothing that Mr. Mink robe could do about it.
“That wasn’t very wise, my dear,” he said, the anger clear in his tone. “That wasn’t very wise at all.”
“You don’t have a voice anymore,” I snapped, but the look in his eyes made me fall back a little. “They’re done answering to you.”
“Oh?” He smiled evilly, and before I could move to stop him, Sentinels flooded into the room. “I gave you a chance for a better life, Tess.” He spit the word, a deadly fire in his eyes. “It’s a shame you didn’t take it.”
I screamed as they pulled me away roughly. I was sure I was going to pass out from the wound in my arm. I didn’t know where they were taking me, and all I could do was watch his smug expression as he fled from the room.
Chapter Twenty-Six
My screams were useless as they took me down hallway after hallway; they didn’t care. No one in this place cared. I just hoped that my broadcast helped him. That it eased the Assassins and Sentinels he was dealing with. Unless I was too slow…and–no! I wasn’t going to let that be a possibility in my mind.
The Head Official’s words rang in my head. Why did he have to make such perfect sense, and how did he know so much about us? Had he been watching us? I shuddered at the thought.
“Walk.” One of the Sentinels commanded, snapping me out of my thoughts. I stopped struggling, knowing that it was just a waste of my energy. Instead of leading me down the entrance halls I had used before, they led me down further into the depths of the building. The garden that had seemed so far away before was now right beside me as they took me down winding, dark corridors.
Finally, they stopped in front of a small cell, with rusty bars and a flickering lightbulb overhead. It looked as if it had been abandoned for years.
“In,” a woman, who looked around my mother’s age barked, “and if I were you, I wouldn’t attempt to escape.” Her lips curled into a cruel twisted smile. “If the motion sensors think you are trying, you will be electrocuted.”
“Won’t that kill me?” I asked, panic bubbling inside me.
“Of course not,” the first sentinel laughed. “Mr. Lieu wants that pleasure for himself.”
I watched them walk away laughing, considering what they meant by that. Was I going to be executed? I curled my knees to my chest and hugged them. The past few days had all been too much to handle, I had lost everything, everyone I ever loved, and I had no idea how they were doing out there. Was Griffin dead? Had we already lost? I felt so useless. Was I ever going to see if they succeeded? Were they going to kill me before I even had the chance?
I sat there in the dusty cell until the light ran itself out, engulfing me in darkness. I felt so overwhelmed, and alone. Is this what true hopelessness felt like? Like you're just a ghost in your own body, waiting for it to be over. I thought of Griffin, understanding him a lot more. I wanted a way out, I wanted it to be over. I was tired, so very tired. When I eventually cried, I thought it would be sobs that wracked my entire body, not the silent, gentle tears trickling down my cheeks now. How had I gotten here? Why wasn’t I at home with my dad, Hyperion, and my mom? Why had he left? Why had he died? Why had he killed her?
Bitterly I looked down at the cold, dirty floor. This was my final chapter, this was how it was ending. Would anyone remember me when I was gone? Would anyone grieve my death? Or would I just be another cloud gone dark?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Voices stirred me from my sleep. “Should we wake her?” a familiar sounding voice asked.
“She might put up m
ore of a fight,” another voice echoed. I drowsily opened my eyes to a male and a female sentinel, one of which had a bloody bandage covering one of his temples. I smirked as I recognized the sentinel who always seemed to walk us to our deaths. First my brother, and now me. Maybe it really did run in the family.
I pushed myself onto my elbows, sitting up. “Where am I going?” I tried to sound confident, but I couldn’t hold back the fear that crept into my voice.
The sentinel I had grown to know, gave me a humorless smile. “Trust me, you’ll know very soon.” I let my eyes wander to his name tag and smirked. Diego. What a lovely name for such a horrible person. He grabbed my injured arm roughly, seeming to take pleasure in my quiet whimpers. I was terrified and felt so very alone. Where were all those Standards and Outsiders that I had put here? If we lost thousands today it would be my fault. I didn’t know if it was selfish or not, but even though there were far more lives on the line all I could think of was Griffin. Would he survive? Was he already dead? I didn’t know, making me feel even more helpless.
I was led into a room far grander than I would have expected for a prisoner, it looked more like a room fit for a king.
The female sentinel instructed me to sit down, before leaving with Diego. I heard the door click shut and lock, confusing me further. I was left alone for a few minutes before the door opened to three timid looking maids. Outsiders taken into service by the looks of their calloused hands. The three ladies split up, one entering a massive wardrobe, and the other two walking into a grand bathroom. I noticed that all of their clouds were a dreary shade of blue.
“Hello?” I stood up, peeking into the bathroom after them. “What’s going on?”
“Mr. Lieu wants us to prepare you.” One of them, her name tag read Charlotte, patiently explained. I tilted my head to hear better, everything still sounded muffled on one side.
“Prepare me for what?” My heart skipped a beat, as a few ideas came to mind.
“The broadcast,” Charlotte gave me a sympathetic smile.
The first maid walked out of the closet, holding three torn dresses. “Come with me, miss.” Her name tag read Camila.
I hesitated, “What is the broadcast for.”
Camila, pulling out a measuring tape, didn’t meet my gaze. “Surely they told her.” She whispered to Charlotte. I didn’t know what she was talking about.
“Of course they didn’t, Camila.” The third maid pointed out, holding an assortment of supplies in her worn hands.
“Do they just expect her to figure it out, Aria?” Camila gave her a pointed look, before beginning to measure around my waist.
Aria shrugged, “I figured she got the message after the cell.”
“What’s happening?” I threw my hands out, frustrated. I was tired of being left in the dark assuming the worst.
“You are going to be executed today, miss,” Charlotte said gently, beginning to brush my hair.
“So what’s all this about?” I asked, trying to stop myself from thinking about it.
“If you ask me, I think Mr. Lieu is trying to send a message to everyone,” Camila whispered, beginning to stitch a delicate treble clef to the middle of the dirty dress.
“What do you mean?” I asked, fear surging through me.
Aria gave her a stern look, “You’ll only worry her. It’s fine, miss.”
“This isn’t a coincidence, Aria,” Camila mumbled, stitching a jagged black X over the treble clef. I noticed that the dress had a cut that exposed my upper back lacing around the back of my neck. I didn’t like how symbolic all of this seemed to be.
“It seems today that he is reminding all of Lieu that no matter what rank you are, you cannot overcome the Officials,” Charlotte whispered, tears coming to her eyes. “I thought things could change, I really did.”
“You were a part of the rebellion?” I blinked, taking her in.
“Not directly, but…I had hope.” She looked at me with admiration. “You gave us hope, something we haven’t had in a while.”
I was touched, honored to have been such an impact on Lieu, yet ashamed that all of that was for nothing.
“I’m sorry that it didn’t work,” I mumbled, looking down. “What’s the X and treble clef for?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
“They symbolize how you were a Standard and then the Fugitive destroyed that beautiful symbol,” Camila explained, giving me a pitiful look.
“‘The Fugitive,’ is named Griffin.” I crossed my arms, feeling defensive. Griffin hadn’t trapped me at all, the ranks had.
“All the same, I’m very sorry.” Aria gently pulled half of my hair back with a ribbon.
“For what?” I looked back at her, unsure.
“For having to go through that of course. The songs are a very intimate thing, and that was taken away from you.” Aria set her hand on my shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.
“It wasn’t,” I looked down. “It was made better.” I could feel myself smiling and aching for him more than ever. When I died, I would have never heard how he felt, but I held comfort in the fact that he would have no doubt of how I felt.
A sudden question came to my mind, “Who are the Assassins working for?”
Charlotte looked taken aback. “Mr. Lieu, why?”
“No reason,” I mumbled, understanding a lot more now. So that’s why they showed up so fast today.
They all remained silent as they finished me up, putting on the torn, dirty dress. It was the color of our flag, but the deep blue was stained with dark red splatters. A cool breeze coursed up my exposed back, making me shiver. I looked at myself in the mirror, almost not recognizing the bruised scared face looking back at me. I wasn’t that little Standard girl anymore, she’d died when Hyperion had. I couldn’t save her.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I shivered as they led me behind the huge stage. On the platform were five tall wooden beams towering over me in the shape of a star. A bucket sat beside one of the poles with metal rods sticking out of it. Steam billowed into the air, dark gray hues drifting across the stage. On either side of each beam was a rusty iron cuff.
Mr. Lieu’s voice came without warning, echoing across the entire city. “Greetings my lovely citizens, ranked big and small! Today I have before me the foolish rebels who tried to stop Lieu, but they forgot one small detail. Lieu does not lose!” Cheers —from the Opulents most likely— erupted around the front of the stage.
“Rebels watching before me from your pathetic seats, you are powerless against this nation, and you have betrayed us. You all know how we handle traitors. But in my mercy, I have spared you! You owe me your lives today, the lives of thousands! Long live Lieu!”
The crowd chanted after him, and the cameras were catching every word. “Come forth loyal servants, pay the debts of the thousands around us. No one is stronger than us, no one can overcome us! Leader of the rebels, traitor of Lieu, come forth. Watch as we take away from you what you have taken from us.” I couldn’t see anything, but I was sure he meant Griffin. My heart skipped a beat, he was alive.
“These rules have ensured peace for hundreds of years! Let us recite them and learn one new rule that has been added as a permanent reminder to all.
Never consult with an Outsider
Never break curfew
Never steal from someone above your rank or someone that shares it
Never harm someone from the same rank or higher
Insiders are extremely dangerous mistakes
Always keep your eyes open for the brand
Never, under any circumstances, deny a Sentinel or Official
The government always knows what’s best for you
Never associate yourself with someone in the lower ranks
Sentinels have every right to ask and search to prove your innocence
All Insiders will be killed on sight
All Outsiders now have an earlier curfew of 7:30 P.M. anyone caught outside after this will be shot on sight
Once a month a family from every rank will give up one child as payment for the sins committed today
I covered my mouth with my hand, unable to believe what he had just declared. A child? An innocent to be sacrificed for what? How many families would lose their main provider in desperation of not losing their little ones?
“Rule fourteen will serve as a reminder of what happens when you go against Lieu, and just how powerless you have all become because of the events today.” He raised his hands and as if they had been given some unseen cue, I was led onto the stage. “Today will be remembered for years to come! My faithful citizens, be thankful that only five die today. Only five lives are given today for the price of millions!”
I looked across the crowd of cheering Opulents and Standards. A sea of bright clouds. How could these people cheer for the deaths of innocents? Outsiders stood watching at the foot of the stage, all bearing shackles and chains. Where were the Standards that had joined us? Of course he had forgiven them without any punishment. Their punishment was a whole new kind of torture. They were about to witness just how cruel Lieu could be.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
As I was pushed onto the stage, I saw Griffin. His feet were bound together with heavyweights, and a metal chain pulled on his neck, cutting into it, binding him to the heavy post behind him. They pushed me towards the place where Mr. Lieu sat, forcing me onto my hands and knees.