There are moments in life when you can't hesitate. And when you do, you'll end up having to make a decision that can affect what's left of your life, positively or, negatively. Some of these decisions, I wish I never had to make them.
Kill Elon. I don't know if I can do that. No! I can't! He's the only one I had outside who could help me look for the killer. Killing him would be a step back on my quest. Besides, he's one of the few physical connections I have with Sam, so kill him would also feel like killing part of me.
"You know what you have to do, don't you?" Asks Hanna
"I can't," I answer.
"You're still not ready." Says Kate.
Olivia looks at me, with the sword still on her hands, kneeling. Her eyes beg me to take it and end this chapter once and for all, even though I had no part in it.
"Please Becca...You have to do it." She begs.
"If you refuse, you'll be executed alongside him. Then it will all be for nothing." Says Kate ready to draw her sword.
She's right. If I die here, all of this will be for nothing. Looking at it from a certain point of view, killing Elon is a small price to pay to avenge my sister.
I tremble...
I never killed someone before...on top of that, someone I feel no hatred towards.
A sacrifice for revenge...
I take the sword and look at Elon. Hands tied, eyes blinded, no chance to escape, helpless. There's nothing he can do to save himself. Only scream his lungs out trying to beg for mercy.
My heart pounds as I prepare myself to end it all. I close my eyes and try to think that it will be over quickly.
But I can't. Hearing him screaming doesn't help.
"Let him at least say his last words..." I ask in an attempt to delay the gore scene about to take place.
Kate agrees and orders the guards to take his gag off. Elon takes a deep breath.
"Choose your words carefully. They will be your last." Says Alexa.
"I know who killed your sister!" He says.
"Unexpected." Says Cecília
"Who did it?!" I ask impatiently.
"It was...Olivia!" He reveals
Everyone in the council room gasps in surprised. My body freezes as a thousand pieces connect in my head. I slowly turn my head and look at Olivia. Her facial expression is nothing like I've ever seen from her before. Her eyes wide open, a deep expression of fear and hypocrisy stamped on her face. I look at Cecília, who's also deeply surprised, looking for confirmation.
"My systems might still be updating, but as far as I can tell, what he said is true..." Confirms Cecília.
Olivia looks at me and shakes her head in denial. But there's no denying it now. Everything makes sense. Every piece connects. Martha was right.
"ˈhɑwø...how could you?!" I say in anger as I walk towards her with the sword still in my hand.
"No, don't Becca...it's not true. You can't believe him." She says in fear while walking away from me. She stumbles.
"I will kill you, o hawø!" I shout swinging the sword.
Kate, who was already expecting this kind of reaction from me, blocks my sword with hers.
"Calm down! Even if it was her, don't you have questions?" Says Kate.
I look viciously at her. "Screw questions now" I think. Olivia acted like this was a game. She played me at her will and made a fool out of me. Like killing my sister wasn't enough. Now, this bitch is protecting her?
"Wouldn't be surprised if she was the traitor too." Says Alexa.
"Aren't you going a bit too far right now? Why should she betray us?" Asked Kate.
"She deceived everyone. No one suspected that she was the killer and yet here we are." Martha replies.
"We don't know for sure that she's the killer. He's an outsider, his word means nothing here." Says Hanna.
"And what if he's right?" Asks Martha
"Who do you rather believe?" Asks Hanna
"That's not the point." She replies.
"This is taking too long, I'll kill him myself," says Alexa.
"Wait!" Demands Kate. "Let's all calm down!" She puts her hand on the grip of my sword. "You too Becca. Please"
"It would be wise to do so." Says Cecília.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath as I let go of the sword and take a step back.
Kate takes it and looks at Olivia.
"Olivia..." Says Kate disappointed.
"You have to believe me. I didn't kill anyone." She says.
"Pretty bold of you to say that." States Martha
"Stop it!" Demands Kate. She looks at Elon. "Outsider! Are you aware of how serious your accusation is?"
"I'm telling you the truth. There's this guy, a conspiracy theorist. Among other things, he suspected that Olivia was up to no good. He told me that a Bionic, Drakov Stin, had a connection with her. This Drakov told me everything after I confronted him with the facts." Says Elon.
"No, he's lying! I barely know Drakov!" Says Olivia in defense.
"Liar!" I say. "Now I get it. You brought my sister to the Colony, probably mistaking her for a Bionic. She tried to escape, so you had to hunt her down and execute her because of your mistake, like you did so many times before. When I decided to avenge my sister you did everything you could to bring me here too, in hoping I would get killed sooner or later. Drakov covered you so that I wouldn't suspect anything. You just didn't expect Elon to figure this out so early. Isn't that right Olivia!? Or should I call you "Bloody Princess"?!"
"How...how do you know that?!" She asks surprised.
"Does it matter?!" I ask
"Your right, it doesn't! Anyways we cannot punish Olivia for something she did outside the Colony. As you know, human laws do not apply here." Says Kate. "Queen Rosalia should've never let us go back to the surface..." She murmurs
"We should at least let her fight Olivia and have a chance to get her revenge." Suggests Martha.
"It wouldn't be a fair fight. We need to think this out better" Says Kate.
"I don't care. As a matter of fact, I won't just fight her. I will take everything from her just like she did to me." I say
"Please, Becca...you have to believe me. Don't do this!" She begs.
"I challenge you for your place as a Princess of the Colony," I say firmly.
"This is getting interesting!" Says Martha.
"Can she do that?" Asked Alexa.
"Of course she can't! She's an outsider!" Answers Hanna.
"We have no rules regarding what outsiders can do here." Says Martha
"Yeah but she hasn't taken her Oaths yet." Replies Hanna.
"Let this be my Oath." I say
"It doesn't work that way," says Alexa.
"Actually..." interrupts Kate. "...she can do that. Acording to the Scripts, everyone inside the Colony is allowed to challenge a Princess or even a Queen whenever he desires. Though a bold move from Becca, she's not allowed to leave, thus making her part of the Colony..." she gasps. "...Olivia has to accept the challenge. Only one can leave the Arena alive. Unless the challenger backs down from the fight." Explains Kate.
"Becca, be reasonable. This won't end well, please ." Pleads Olivia.
"The challenge was made!" I say.
"The battle will take place in a week, then. Prepare yourselves. Just one thing Becca. You have until the "great flame" to give up from the challenge. Please consider." Advices Kate.
"That won't happen. I made a promise. I'll be sure to keep it." I say before looking at Elon. "Thank you!"
"Can I kill the o utsider now?" Asks Alexa.
"No! Lock him up. I will make him talk, see what else he knows." Says Kate.
The guards take Elon while he screams pledging having told everything he knew and begging for mercy. He even looks at me in hope I can do something for him. But all I can do is look back at him while he's dragged across the room. I feel sorry for him. I really do. At least his inevitable death was delayed.
Everyone leaves but Olivia. She just stands there looking at me, ashamed probably. Now that she was caught, she has nowhere to hide anymore. Now the challenge. It was out of impulse but now it's done. It's either me or her.
I turn my back to her and go straight to the training ground. I have no time to lose. She got her Oaths at 10 so she must be really strong. It doesn't matter. I'll practice and win this. Cecília comes with me and she can't help but trying to talk me out of this "crazy idea" of fighting Olivia. It's of no use. I completely ignore her. No breaks, no distraction! Nothing is more important than training right now. Isolated from everyone else, I focus on my goal and use it as motivation to overcome any fatigue or sore muscle.
It's late. I'm the only one outside, so I guess i've been training for hours now.
"You should eat something and rest." Says Cecília, who stood there looking at me the whole time.
"Don't worry 'bout me. You can go eat and rest if you want." I say as I keep swinging the ax around.
"I do not depend on those things for my well being, unlike you, miss Geon." She says.
"I already told you to chill. I'm OK!" I say
"You're visibly not. If you do not rest and eat, your body will collapse and you will not be able to move a muscle the next days." She replies.
"I know what I'm doing!" I say
"You should listen to your Droid." Says Kate coming out from nowhere.
"Oh, it's you," I say. "No use on trying to make me give up. It won't work. And she's not my Droid."
"You're really a stubborn brat." She says.
"You only say that because you'll never understand what I felt when I was told my sister was dead. So you can stop right there." I say
"I also lost sisters, I think I know what it feels like." She says
"Oh please! We were raised in completely different worlds! You grew up knowing that at any time your sisters could be killed, you would even execute them if needed for the sake of the Colony! You grew up holding blades and slitting throats. I grew up believing that my family would be around for a long time. We never lacked anything. We grew up, holding our favorite toys and playing with each other. Are you really gonna stand there and tell me you know how I feel?" I ask.
"You're right. We were raised in very different worlds. Here we learn to put loyalty above feelings. If you keep walking this path, you'll end up dead. As of right now, you're not even close to become a true member of the colony. You have no balance, and get carried by the first thing people tell you, not because your dumb, but because you're filled with anger. Feelings may betray you, Rebecca, you should know that." She says
I stop and look at her.
"I'm certain that Olivia isn't the killer. Elon might've got something wrong during his investigation. But even so, if I were you, I wouldn't want to fight Olivia." She continues
"I already told you that there's no way you can talk me out of the challenge!" I tell her.
"Wanna know how I lost my arm?" She asks.
"What does that have to do with anything?" I ask in return.
"She ripped it off. Notice that I didn't say "cut". She did it with her bare hands." she says.
Despite how serious she looks, Its not something easy to believe right away. I can't imagine Olivia doing something like that to someone like Kate...
"How did it happen?" I ask
"It was during our Oaths. We fought each other. I was winning the fight. I managed to inflict serious wounds on her and I could see the victory on the horizon. I didn't want to kill her or cut her limbs off though, so my goal was to make her surrender." She explains.
"I'm guessing she didn't..." I say.
"She didn't. Instead, she went berserk. She threw away her sword and fought with her bare hands. She was too strong for a 10-year-old girl. I couldn't hit her anymore. She swiftly dodged every single strike. This was the only time I felt fear. She ended up getting on top of me and forced my arm off...I can't express the pain and agony I felt that day. My mother wanted to stop the battle and give the victory to Olivia, so I only had time to slice her arm off with my sword using my free hand. Since both of us lost a limb that day, it was decided by both Peverin and Latinola that the battle would end there as a draw and that both of us would take our oaths. Perks of being a princess I would say." She continues.
"Hard to believe Olivia did that. It's so unlike her." I say in disbelief.
"The truth is that I've always noticed a huge personality floatation from her. I'm sure you noticed that too, haven't you?" She asks.
I stay silent for the next seconds, briefly thinking about it. It's true that Olivia has an odd personality. When we met for the first time she was cold and distant. She didn't talk much and was always focused on her studies. After my sister's death, she changed, becoming somewhat insecure and scared, having moments of audacity like when she dared Kate to shoot her. After that, she became super helpful, doing her best to help me down here. Not saying that people can't change, but not as often and as radically as her.
"So? Have you noticed it?" She asks again.
I nod. "...I'm going to rest..." I say. "Just one thing...you said something about a great flame."
"Figured you'd ask. It's a celebration that takes place the day before major challenges. It starts with the Head Queen firing an arrow into a pit, igniting a "great flame". Following that both competitors receive their warrior face paintings and get a blessing from the Queen of their sub-colony. In your case, Cecília will be in charge of that, she'll know what to do. The rest of the day will be a feast. People will eat, drink, play traditional games and fight." She explains.
"I see...I guess I'll see you there then." I say turning around leaving.
The following days are filled with training. Cecilia tries to learn as much as she can about the Colony's celebrations and traditions so she can do her part proprely during the Great Flame. As time passes by, I try to accept the fact that in a few days, either me or Olivia will come out of that arena alive. If I die...maybe I'll be reunited with my sister. If I win...well if I win, It'll be the first time I kill someone, and that thought is haunting me each and every passing minute.
The day has finally arrived. The Great Flame will be ignited today. Here I am, sitting on a chair in my bedroom, fully clothed with norse clothes and having my hair braided by Cecilia while she reassures me that everything will be alright. Now that's something I never imagined would happen. In the corner of the room, my Shield and the Ax I've been training with this whole time. Everything is ready.
Getting out of the room we're greeted by a huge crowd. I'm guessing that some even came from different parts of the planet, this is, other sub-colonies to see the battle between a Princess and an Outsider. They make way to a large camp near a forest where the celebration will take place. Arriving there, I see Olivia, also with her hair braided, armed with her shield and her sword, still with the same expression on her face. While we get closer I look intensively at her, thinking about everything she made me go through, every lie she told me and every tear I shed. The cheers of the crowd only hype me more for this fight, and after this intensive week of training my mind is set on the goal: Kill Olivia...
"It's still not too late to back down from the challenge Becca..." She begs as soon as we meet.
I look at her without answering. I take my Ax and beat it against my shield twice. I guess she understood what I meant, and if she didn't, Im sure that the crowd made her understand by the cheers.
The Head Queen, who was sitting on her throne this whole time, stands up. As soon as she does, everyone gets quiet.
"The time has arrived, Colony! We are gathered here today for what i'd call an odd happening. An Outsider challenging a Princess for her place. As all of you are aware off, only one of them will be coming out of the Arena alive. Challenger! Is it of your will go forward with this?" She asks
"Yes!" I answer. The crowd goes wild cheering and bawling, approving my answer.
"Then the fire will be ignited, this morning, as a symbol of your will! Both of you, Rebecca, Olivia, take a step forward please." She asks
Both of us step forward and are given a torch. The Head Queen makes sign for us to light the bowl in front of us.
"Your fates are now sealed" She says.
She takes a bow and an arrow and lights it. These next seconds are silent. Everyone pays attention to her as she aims to the pit firing the flaming arrow. It's done. The great flame was ignited.
Right after it both Cecilia and Olivia's motger come to give us our face paintings.
"Kneel" asks Cecilia.
I do so, just like Olivia does right beside me. While Cecilia marks my face with the redish paint with her fingers, she tells me about the meaning of my warrior face painting and the reason of the color she chose. Even now she doesn't seem to understand my point of view as she insists on talking about the fact that all I can see now is blood and that my rage is defining my personality. I try not to pay much attention to it.
Face paintings done. We both stand and look at each other. For a moment I see the Olivia I met in my dorm and not the cold blooded killer and liar that now stands in front of me. Her facial expression brings me back to that day...But it's all an act...I know that now.
"You can cut it out already." I say. "You don't need to pretend to care anymore, I can see right through you."
"I just wish you'd believe me..." She answers.
I ignore her and face the crowd who's still cheering anxious to start the festival. The Head Queen takes a look at both of us and smiles at me as if wishing me good luck.
"What are you waiting for, fill your bellies and drink untill you can no more!" Says the Head Queen.
Music starts playing, people dancing and singing, kids running playing with each other. Hard to believe this is a celebration for a fight on which someone will certainly die in the end...
Cecilia takes me to a large table filled with all kinds of dishes. Sat there, right in the middle is the Head Queen. Sitting next to her, at her right, a girl about my age, who I assume to be her daughter, then Olivia's mother and Olivia. As Cecilia goes to sit next to the Head Queen at her left, she calls me:
"Outsider, why dont you sit next to me?" She ask.
I look at her a bit confused but promptly change places with Cecilia. Sitting down, a maiden serves us all a cup of a a drink.
"Go on drink it. It's a norse beer, Ale. I'm sure you've already heard of it." Says the Head Queen. "Skol."
I take the cup and and take a gulp of it.
"So, how is it? Do you like it?" Asks the girl sitting next to her.
"A bit strong I'd say" I answer
"I think you still haven't met. This is my daughter. She was named after me." Says the Head Queen
"Nice to meet you. My name is Hrafnadottir Voll." She introduces herself.
"Nice to meet you. I guess i need no introduction. Looks like everyone knows the Outsider." I say
"You're right. You're well known in the Colony. I myself was curious about you. And as the next Head Queen, it's issential to know what happens throughout the whole Colony. And more, if it concerns my fellow Princesses. I'm hoping to be able to spend more time with the other Princesses soon after I'm done with Head Princess duties. Eat. I'm sure you'll enjoy our traditional dishes." She says.
As appetizing as it might loo, I don't feel like eating. But I nod and eat quietly. As soon as we're done eating, Hrafnadottir takes me to some points of the festival to show me some of the things they do for fun down here. Now thats something I havent had in a long time. Fun...
We go to a table with two groups of people in each end and a lot of drinks on the table. They all seem to be tipsy, so I think it must be some kind of drinking game, like beer pong or shot-roulette.
"What's the point of this game," I ask.
"Its called wulø farabu. Means Drunk Poetry." Explains Hrafnadottir. "One team drinks, then boast, tell rhymes and insult the other team. The second team then tries to out-drink and out-insult the first team. The winner is the team that can drink the most and remain articulate and witty."
"Sounds fun" I say. And for the looks of it it's a nice idea for a drinking game. After some long rounds of non-stop drinking and heavy insults, a girl from one of the teams punches a guy from the oposite team. Everyone laughs and cheers as she raises her fist and her drinking horn trying to keep her balance.
All over the festival, there's something happening. Either board games, drinking games, archery, running, dancing, and though the advanced thechnology they have access to, they seem to keep everything as traditional and simple as possible. Even the kids, play with wooden toys instead of phones, consoles or gadgets.
"How do you like it down here?"Asks Hrafnadottir.
"It's not the surface, but I like it." I say
"I'm glad to hear that. I would love to know more about you." She says
"I will have to win the challenge tomorrow for that to happen." I answer
"I'm sure you will. I can feel the Freyja's strength inside you. Come, let me show you something." She says.
I follow her as she takes me deep inside the forest. After a 10 minute walk we get to beautiful yet relaxing waterfall.
"This is where I come every time I want to relax before a challenge." She says, sitting down on the grass.
"Have you had many challenges? Cuz if I'm not mistaken, whoever kills you in a challenge automatically becomes the heir to the throne right?" I ask.
"You're right. I had more challenges that i can count. But fortunately I managed to win every single one them, as you can see. I'm sure you'll win your challenge too." She says.
"How come you're not cheering for Olivia? She's your fellow princess after all." I ask
"Don't get me wrong. I like Olivia. But there's something about you...that I can't explain. And unfortunatly this is not like the Oaths. Only one will come out alive from the arena. I'm betting on you." She says.
"I'll do my best. But I'm not doing this for me. It's all for my sister." I expain
"Now thats something that does not concern me. But I hope you acomplish whatever you set your mind to, regardless who you're doing it for." She says before standing up and start undressing.
"What are you doing?" I ask
"I'm gonna go swim. Can't get my clothes wet. Wanna join me?" She asks.
I refuse, even if a bit unsettled. She finishes undressing, and I have to say, she has an amazing body. Aside the bruises and scars, she has the body of a goddess. Not caring about whoever might be peeping or even my presence she enters the lake fully naked and starts swiming. The way she moves in the water reminds me of a mermaid.
"You sure you don't want to come?" She asks swiming closer to the shore. I hesitate for a second but in the end agree to go in.
I take my clothes off and enter the water. She takes a good look at me and lets out a smile. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's just a curious girl. The water is warm and it's in fact relaxing. She dives and swims around me.
"You're stil too tense." She says. "If you want to win tomorrow you gotta fully relax your body."
"And how am I supposed to do that knowing I might be killed tomorrow?" I ask
She let's out a cheeky smile. "Allow me to show you." She says as she leans closer and passes her hands down my body, inside the water.
"Wait!" I stop her. "I dont play on that side." I say
"I know you don't." She says before kissing me gently and continues.
I can't help but to fall on her hands and let her control me. As strong as I might be, there are some things even the strongest warrior cannot resist. I feel my body relax, finnaly.
She stops. "Be carefull not o missunderstand this" She says.
"Don't worry. I understand what you're doing". I say before taking the initiative to kiss her this time.
We stay like this for some time untill we decide to go back to the festival. I'm sure Cecília has already blown a fuse looking for me.
Arriving at there, as expected, Cecília approaches me nagging about how I should be focused and be present at the festival and not just wandeing around. I honestly don't remember when she became my mother or tutor to be harrassing me like this, but I'm way too relaxed to stress about things like these.
Hrafnadottir goes and sits back at the right of the Head Queen's throne. I keep my eyes on her as she smiles back at me. Not that I fell in love or something, but she's definitly something else.
"I can see you're the likes of the Head Princess." Says Kate as she arrives next to me.
" I dont know what you're talking about." I say
"Sure." She nods. "Anyways, are you ready for tomorrow?" She asks.
"Couldn't be more ready. I'm going to kill that bitch." I say confident.
"Don't forget what I told you a week ago. I still think you should've thought about this, but now is too late." She says
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." I assure her.
"You better do, for your own good." She says.
"By the way, Is there any possibiity for me to talk to Elon before the challenge?" I ask
"Sorry. That won't be possible. He's unconscious, and he's probably gonna stay like that for a long time." Says Kate
"What did you do to him?!" I ask trying to retain my anger.
"Calm down," She says, "he's not dead. He's just refusing to cooperate and we know he knows more than he's telling us."
"How are you so sure about that?" I ask.
"Because there's something about he's investigations that doesn't add up. Besides, we found out that he was in the club the night of the shooting. Only Coloners and Bionics know about these clubs. The exeptions are, in this case, the terrorists who attacked the club, and well, Samantha, who Olivia thought to be a Bionic."
"Maybe someone mistook him for a Bionic too." I say trying to explian.
"No. He was alone. Though he didn't do anything suspicious there, the fact that he went there alone is by itself weird. I'm sure he's hiding something." She returns.
"Look, I know Elon since chilhood. We grew up together. I would know if he was hiding something." I say
"Hm...sure." She turns her back and starts walking away. "You still have a long way to go."
I know Elon didn't do anything wrong and only got in trouble because he tried to help me. Somehow I feel that this is my fault. I think that there's only one way for me to be able to help him and possibly save his life. I have to win the challenge, become a Colony Princess and use my power to do the least I can.
It ends Tomorrow.