Hey guys! My anxiety wants me to remind you that this is a story written for fun and not to be a magnificent work of art. To put it simply; this is the shit my brain produces when I'm bored. So don't expect something good from me.
Again, this is probably the anxiety talking, so don't really mind me. Anyways, here's the chapter!
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"You said it yourself, Lexa. I don't have any other choice. "
The Commander seemed to be thinking intensely, her face closed. Cassie just adjusted her shawl over her head.
"It's okay, really. I never thought I would make it this far anyway. It's time for me to go now."
Lexa regarded her in silence, seeming to refrain from saying something. Cassie leaned over her with a smile.
"Don't make that face, sweetie. Everything will be alright. Everyone will get what they want. You included. "
"I do not wish for your death."
"Well, you should. Better get used to it now, because I'm not walking out of that fight," she said, gesturing outside.
The townspeople gathered in front of the tower, drawing an empty circle in the middle of which Magnus stood, walking in a circle furiously. Some were cheering, others were just waiting to see the fight.
Cassie walked silently behind Lexa as they stepped outside. Lexa walked silently to the small platform built next to the battleground. A seat was placed there for her, Titus waiting for her to take a seat, standing straight up. Cassie stopped in the circle, straightened her scarf over her hair. Magnus was giving her a murderous look and the locals were shouting insults at her.
The sky was blue. It was a beautiful day to die.
In the middle of the crowd, Cassie caught sight of Anya's face, who was standing still, Tris by her side. Her jaw was contracted and she was staring at her with a dark gaze. Cassie didn't know who, her or Magnus, Anya hated the most.
On the other side of the circle, Magnus theatrically drew a sword from its scabbard, the locals shouting with joy as they cheered. A young boy shyly walked over to Cassie, handing her a sword.
"Oh, no, thank you, honey. You can keep it. "
Those closest to her were silent, confused by her refusal. Cassie turned and walked silently inside the circle, chin up and proud. Magnus turned to her, sword in hand.
"The two fighters will fight to the death to regain their honor," Titus said loudly and clearly. "You cannot choose other weapons than the ones provided to you."
Magnus walked to the right, as if they were supposed to circle while facing each other. Cassie, confused, didn't move.
"May the best fighter live," finished Titus.
And the battle began.
With a war cry, Magnus charged in her direction, his sword drawn forward. Cassie walked peacefully to meet him, ready to take her last steps. The moment Magus came to her, her foot slipped in the mud and she sprawled on the ground, passing between Magnus's legs who had no time to react.
Screams, cheers echoed, Cassie sat up straight, wiping her cheek. Angrily, she turned to the sky.
"Really?! Really, bitch?! " She yelled, giving a middle finger at the clouds.
Magnus, recovered from his surprise, turned to her and ran in her direction again, carried with rage.
"Oh, hey," Cassie said stupidly.
A first blow of the sword slashed her side, a second grazed her cheek, spilling blood.
"Oh, come on, you can do better than that!" Cried Cassie.
Tris's face, contracted with anguish, appeared in the crowd for a second before being swallowed again. Magnus straightened up, bracing himself by giving her a confused look.
"Why aren't you fighting back, Skaigada?"
"Meh. Don't want to. "
Magnus then did something Cassie never imagined, he dropped his sword and rushed at her. Cassie understood that fighters had to be on the same level.
"Fight back!"
"Why?!"
In response, Magnus slammed his fist in her face. Cassie felt a burst of pain in her jaw, reflexively her eyes filled with tears.
"Fight, Skaigada! Don't you have an honor? "
"Where I'm from, honor doesn't have the same price."
Another blow took her breath away, Cassie felt her eyelids swell in pain. Her vision was clouded with the warm blood she could feel trickling down her face. The screams, the cheers of the spectators echoed in her skull, as if they lived inside it.
Magnus suddenly pulled away, picked up his sword, and brandished it at Cassie's chest. The young woman sank back onto the muddy ground, opening her arms to fully present herself to the blade. Pain blinded her, overwhelmed her, swallowed her, and Anya's face stood out in the crowd, her dark gaze turned to her.
"Let's go," Cassie whispered, breathless. "I wanna go home to my kid."
She glanced in Magnus' direction.
"Kill me. I've been waiting for this moment for months. "
She rested her head on the ground, turning to the sky and the clouds. Her daughter was waiting for her.
"May we meet again."
Magnus, puzzled, glanced around, as if he didn't know what to do. Suddenly, a flash of understanding crossed his gaze and he let go of his weapon. Cassie turned to him when she heard the metallic click of the sword on the ground.
"What are you doing?" She hissed as silence fell around them.
"You have the sickness of the soul. You really do. "
He took a step back.
"If I kill you, you will be the one winning, you will have the relief of death. You don't deserve it, Skaigada. You don't deserve anything, and certainly not from me. "
Panicking, Cassie straightened up, sitting up. Magnus turned to Lexa who was watching the scene, impassive.
"I won the challenge. The Skaigada has been dead for a long time. I will not help her. "
Lexa just nodded as Magnus crossed the circle to join his people. Cassie, panicked, began to scream.
"What are you doing?! Get back here! This is a fight to death! You're supposed to kill me! "
But Magnus ignored her completely, returning to fetch his cloak from the hands of a servant. Cassie gasped, her chest tight with anguish.
"Kill me! Kill me! I have to die! You have to kill me! Please! I have to see my baby again! "
No answer. The spectators stared at her in silence, the young boy with the sword had moved away, as if to prevent her from killing herself with it.
Cassie felt her tears mingling with her blood, she was panicking, choking.
"Please! I'm begging you! You can't keep me alive as a punishment! It's not fair! "
She turned, meeting only the closed gazes of the spectators who stared at her without a word.
"Lexa!" Cassie shouted in her direction. "You can't allow it! Pease, do something! "
But Lexa didn't move, just watching her from her seat, and Cassie guessed that she wouldn't help either. Panicked, she searched around for someone, anyone, and her gaze met Anya's.
Her eyes were filled with disgust.
Abruptly, she turned away and disappeared among the crowd.
"Anya! Come back here! You've been dreaming of killing me for ages! Come back here and finish the fucking job! "
No answer. Lexa got up and walked down the stage to return to the tower, going back to her occupations. The crowd gradually began to disperse.
"Anya! Anya, please! Please!"
But nobody cared about her, nobody hated her enough to kill her.
Her tight throat ached, her chest was squeezed and air hissed out, and her heart was pounding with pain.
Shaken with sobs, Cassie curled up in the mud and cried for a long time, alone against the ground.