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⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

This post contains suicide and violence.

 

Jade

Ku’s regret reveal left Jade’s skin crawling in horror. When Abirami’s turn came, Jade’s mind raced, trying to figure out how to deal with this diabolical Castle’s challenge. Airu forced herself into Jade’s unwilling thoughts. Hatred for the Benevolents, for herself, and for the Castle coursed through Jade’s entire being. Her earlier illusions of freedom vanished. This place was worse than Benevola Haven. At least the Benevolents weren’t as all-knowing and all-powerful as they pretended to be. Jade pulled against her restraints and glared at the ceiling. She wasn’t going to give the Castle any satisfaction.

Therefore, of course she was up next. What, was the Castle working through first the birthday girl, then the dancers, and then the rest?

”Jade Nightingale, daughter of the Fishers Nightingale of Benevola Haven: divulge your deepest regret.”

Her arms now free, she crossed them.

10

…

9

…

8

…

7

…

6

She clenched her teeth and fists.

5

…

4

…

3

…

2

…

1

Breathe.

And Airu was on the screen.

Jade had expected to merely watch the events play out, but whether it was a trick of the Castle or not, it felt as though all of the emotions of that day were dumped into her soul once more.

Airu, with her long, black, exquisitely braided hair, her soft white dress, trembled. Jade watched herself put a geranium, which she’d found in the cracks of concrete outside the tenement, into Airu’s hair and pat her shoulder. Then Brennan came in and took Airu’s hand. Jealousy stabbed Jade now just as it had then. She knew she’d been horridly childish. Who cared if Airu weren’t just hers, so long as she was alive?

The scene shifted. Now Jade saw herself standing to the side in the school assembly, watching Airu and Brennan dance beneath the Benevolents’ eyes, watching Brennan fail to salute them.

Then her heart leapt with joy when the Benevolents included Airu in those to go into textile work, not the fishery. Maybe, maybe, maybe, Jade could achieve her own goal the next Day of Destiny, becoming a Dancer.

A Benevolent read out the Culled list. “For the glory of Benevola Haven, the improvement of the human race, and the furtherance of the greater good, the following persons are hereby Culled…”

When Brennan’s name was announced in the list, shame burned Jade’s cheeks. She felt the sulky triumph of her younger self at the same time as the grief and regret of now.

”No!” Airu screamed. She’d always been so emotional.

Something in Jade shut down. She didn’t have to keep an emotionless mask on anymore. A numbness filled her instead as she watched Brennan try to soothe Airu, and Airu cling to him, and the Protectors push her off and drag Brennan away.

The scene changed again, snapping Jade out of her numb state. She braced herself. Now she saw herself and Airu standing in the common space near the kitchen counter. Gone were the braids and flower and dress. Tears streamed down Airu’s cheeks. The blood thumping in Jade’s ears drowned out every bit of their argument.

Except:

”If they saw fit to Cull him, what kind of guy was he, anyway? He was so stupid back there, he practically killed himself!” Oh stupid young Jade. No…

Airu let loose a wail like a dying animal, and a wild look entered her eyes. She seized the knife on the counter.

Jade shut her eyes.

The room went deathly silent. Jade buried her face under her arms and against the desk.