Wake me up in 2395

Chapter 26: Cassandra’s Retribution to the Union

Chapter 26: Cassandra’s Retribution to the Union

“Welcome to the Parade of Superiority & Awarding of Excellence. The event shall commence in ten minutes. Please proceed to your designated rows. Only invited guests are allowed and the awardees.”

We were already reclined on our sits when the announcement was repeated. I looked around, there were many people who were already on their designated positions as well and they were all just waiting for the program to commence. Nasa tabi ko si Cassandra, at sa kanang bahagi ko naman ay doon nakapuwesto sina Mayor Elizabeth at Mayor Marina, sa tabi ni Mayor Marina si Lag. I rolled my eyes as I already this know this arrangement is done by the Empress.

“Ngayon ko lang napansin, but you cut your hair.” Mayor Marina said, bahagya pa siyang bumaluktot upang makita ako dahil nasa pagitan namin si Elizabeth.

I simply smiled, “yes...”

“It looks nice on you.” She complimented, “I cannot really go for such daring haircut, since I do not know if I can pull it off.” Aniya.

“Well, I feel like a new person that is why I did this, not caring whether it will suit me or not.” I grinned at her, “you should try something new too... I am sure you will be able to find whatever it is that suits you... Like change your hair color, for example, I think a brown shade of red will suit you.” I grinned at her. Marina’s eyes were like bronze, and her beautiful face had freckles on it. She had a naturally curly hair, and I think having a redhead will surely make her look more aesthetic.

“I will take that into consideration,” she grinned.

Tumingin naman ako kay Elizabeth, tumingin lang din siya sa akin at saka niya ako tinaasan ng kilay. Halatang ginaya nito ang itsura ng mga Astarria, she must admire them that much if she will do something like this. I know Elizabeth’s loyalty lies with the Union too... I have to be cautious of her. Also, I never liked her attitude. Kaya rin siguro siya ang pinatabi sa akin ng Empress.

“Everyone, stand up and pay your respect to the Empress.” The mechanical voice of the female robot announced, the same voice that announces everything since the start of the foundation week. As if on cue, the lights of the Arena changed, everything went dimmer and darker, and a spotlight followed a female figure as she walked towards the iron throne at the stage of the Arena.

Her walk was regal, and she wore this crown on top of her head. Her hair was braided intricately and sophisticatedly and its platinum-blonde shade was ever-shifting in color, depending on the angle of the light that is hitting it. She had this commanding presence, and her face was stoic and cold. Her eyes were intimidating and manipulative. I can see her face despite her back being against us because of the hologram screens which were projecting her, in different angles and position.

A royalty music was blaring across the speakers of the arena as she took her grand entrance. Everyone seems astonished by her beauty as well, as they were all just staring at her. She really gives off so much presence, I can feel the atmosphere turning heavier, with all the Imperial Knight as well who were following her behind. It was a showcase of power, she was telling to people she is the most powerful figure, and that no one can ever defy her and the power that she holds.

She wore this maroon cape as well, with its end featuring a white fur of an animal, and she wore a dress that had so much embroideries that I can never fathom, but it reminded me of fire, she was fierce to some degree.

She ascended towards the throne, napansin ko rin sa pinakaharap ng row ng mga upuan ang kaniyang pamilya—the taller man was Warez, the founder of the Union. Then beside him is the kid named Warrior, and Wrath, the man Warez wants me to marry, and he had no objections.

“We are drawing near to the end of the Bicentennial Foundation Week of the Imperium Union, and as tradition goes, on the sixth day of the celebration, we shall commemorate, reminisce, and give praise to the milestones that we have achieved, especially of you, Imperials, as these milestones have greatly contributed to the betterment of the Union that wants nothing but peace and harmony. My dearest Imperials, today is your time to shine. Welcome all, and enjoy! Dum vivet, Imperium!”

“Dum Vivet Imperium!” Everyone chanted the chant of the Empress, and she smiled. But it was a calculating one, and her smile was wicked in one way or another. I do not know why, but I do not really like her at all. Siguro dahil nakausap ko na siya minsan at alam ko na ang kaniyang ugali. She is childish!

She went to her throne and sat there. Kasabay nito ay may isang tumayong isang maharlika, at nagsimula itong magsalita. “I am Blare Regis, and I shall be the Master of the Ceremony!” The man grinned. He wore this glowing eyeglass as well, and he seems to be reading something from what it was projecting. Pretty convenient.

Nagsimula na rin ang awarding. Napansin ko na ang mga tinatawag ay tatayo papunta sa entablado, at mabibigyan sila ng trophy o papel, at saka sila pupunta sa Empress upang yumuko sa kaniya. She will simply wave her hand, and from bowing down, the awardee shall now proceed back to his or her chair.

“The Battle Royale: Last Man Standing’s winner is from Tre, may we call on the champion, Cassandra Reeva, to come here on stage in order to be recognized and awarded by the Empress.” The man, Blare, announced.

I looked at Cassandra. Hindi ko mabasa kung ano ang kaniyang iniisip, she had no protests—she stood up and walked towards the stage. The spotlight was on her, and somehow, I do not know why but I can feel that there is something wrong with the way she was moving. I just cannot pinpoint or identify, but I know her aura right now is darker than it was yesterday.

I looked at her through the projections on the screen as she was already too far away from us. Ang unang napansin ko ay ang kaniyang mga mata—they seem to be full of anger, wrath, and fury, and I looked at the one she was looking at, the Empress.

Bigla akong kinutuban ng masama dahil sa aking napansin. Hindi ko alam pero bahagya akong napatayo. I wanted to run after her, and tell her to stop whatever it is that she was planning to do. She wore this shady dress as well, and it seems like she was hiding something from within.

“What are you doing?” Kumunot ang noo ni Elizabeth dahil sa aking biglang pagtayo, “you cannot wait for your turn to be awarded?” She rolled her eyes.

Umiling ako, “no... I am just stopping Cassandra...” I almost whispered, ngunit narinig naman ito ni Elizabeth kaya natawa siya nang bahagya. Sina Marina at Lag naman ay tumitig lang sa akin, as if they were curious what was going on.

“What do you mean stop her? She is the champion. She must be recognized.” Matigas na sambit ni Elizabeth.

“No, that is not what I mean... I have a bad feeling.” I said, “she might do something reckless and stupid.”

“What do you mean?”

Umupo na ako at bumuntong-hininga, “I do not know, I just know it.”

Hindi na ako umimik pa, pati si Elizabeth ay tila naramdaman na rin kung ano ang aking kutob. She sighed, bahagya siyang namutla pa, she intertwined her fingers and played with them too as we all watched Cassandra, she was now ascending towards the stage, towards Blare, holding this trophy that had a statue of a man standing on top of corpses.

“Congratulations, Cassandra!” Blare smiled as he offered the trophy towards Cassandra, “any words you want to say as the champion? This year for you will be very heavy as you shall go on across districts, becoming an icon and public figure of the Union. What do you want to say to your fellow Imperials?”

Hindi umimik si Cassandra. She was simply rooted on her spot, that’s when tears started to form in her eyes, and they fell. Blare took it as tears of joy, and he clapped his hands, “aw, Cassandra is overcome with joy, that she cried!” Everyone cheered, but I know more than anyone in the arena those were not tears of joy, but tears of sadness, of anger, and wrath. “Okay now, calm down now, Cassandra. I know you are very happy and pleased, but you also have to say something!”

Everyone laughed because of the words of Blare. Somehow, I know now why he was chosen to be the master of the ceremony. He made this boring awarding event as colorful, and it was very much engaging. But he was misleading things already. I looked at Elizabeth, and she seems to forget the fact as well that Cassandra seems to be planning something already, as she was laughing along the crowd already.

“I am Cassandra Reeva...” She started.

“Sweetheart, we all know that already.” Blared chuckled at his own remark, and everyone laughed along him.

“I am from Tre...”

“That, too.” Blare laughed, and everyone laughed along him. The Empress seems amused too because of the way Blare was ‘ridiculing’ Cassandra.

“I am the champion of the Battle Royale, and I was sent here along with my lover, Percival, who also died exactly on this place, where the awarding is currently happening. I am nothing but a pawn, that is something I realized.”

Everyone fell quiet because of her declaration, and the face of the Empress changed as well from an amused one to a confused and aloof expression. I looked at Elizabeth, her expression has also changed.

“Did you know?” I asked her, hindi ko alam pero kakaiba ngayon ang tono ng aking boses. “Did you know?” I asked once more, and I know she knew what this question meant, if she knew that Cassandra and Percival were lovers before she sent them both to die for ‘leisure’ and ‘entertainment’ of the bored people of this messed up world.

She shook her head, “I did not.” She sounded guilty already, and that is how I know that her conscience is eating her alive already.

“I am repeating it...” Cassandra’s voice was amplified across the speakers of the arena, “I am Cassandra Reeva, I am from Tre, the champion of the 200th Battle Royale, and the lover of the late Percival.” Her voice was now cold and it sent chills down to my spine, kasabay nito ay binitawan ni Cassandra ang trophy na hawak nito, “one thousand and eight hundred lives were already lost because of this Battle Royale... I was inspired when I realized that the Union is not that invincible when all these years, it projected that it was. The explosion at the Central Square gave me hope, that I can do something.”

Her voice was now filled with anger, and she grabbed something within her dress—a gun. She aimed it at the Empress, and the Imperial Knights were too slow to react, the people gasped. “This is what I can do,” and with that, she pulled the trigger, but an Imperial Knight was fast enough to shield the Empress, and he was shot, straight in the face, his corpse fell into the ground, and the Empress’s eyes widened in terror and shock.

Imperial Knights tried to seize Cassandra, but she was agile and had quick reflexes. Somehow, her gun was different too compared to the ones I knew from before. It emitted this plasma-like bullets. It was lethal, and scary.

“Seize her!” Empress Wynzelle screamed, losing her composure. More Imperial Knights came to her rescue and surrounded her. It was all being broadcasted live, and I know all the districts are watching now as the event unfolds. “Do not kill her, it is possible that she is also part of the ROSE Society! A traitor has revealed itself, and we must gladly take her in order to find out about our enemy.” The Empress said, seeing this as an opportunity to know where the bases of the ROSE Society is.

Everyone were quiet, hindi nila alam kung paano rin kikilos dahil sa mga pangyayari at kaganapan. Ako naman ay mabilis ang pintig ng aking puso. I somehow hoped too that she will get the Empress and kill her already, but I know killing the Empress is not enough to bring down the Union, she will just be replaced by Wrath, and the broken system will just continue. We have to eradicate the Union in its entirety.

When Cassandra knew she was already losing after killing a few more Imperial Knights, she decided to aim to gun to her head, “I know this is being broadcasted live and everyone across the world is watching—the Imperium Union is not that invincible and we have the power to end it and replace this broken system with a better system for all of us, where there is no discrimination and abuse, I am Cassandra Reeva, and not only am a champion of Tre, but I also am a member of the ROSE Society. We are everywhere, we are powerful and growing, we are a force that the Union must be afraid of. Those who wish to join us, we shall know. There are many beyond the wall, and soon, a war shall commence in order to free mankind from the shackles of the Union. Glory to mankind.” And she pulled the trigger.

Her body fell on the cold marble floor, and the Empress’s eyes widened, as if all hopes that she will find out where the enemy resides has been lost and gone.

A few seconds later, I felt my M-ring vibrate, I took it after and saw a message from Chun.

Chun: Cassandra is not a member of the Society and what unfolded today is awfully surprising, but it seems she supports the cause of the ROSE Society to the extent that she will die for it after saying its name. Since a lot already admires her for becoming the 200th Champion, it is for sure that many who are afraid to do something will also do something. As for you, Primrose, your initiation is yet to be decided. Do not do something rash and impulsive like Cassandra. Stay vigilant as well, and keep your eyes open. We shall contact you when you are already needed, but before anything else, forget us still. The ROSE Society has already made enough appearance, and we shall remain lowkey as we gather more allies and increase our power. This shall be the last time I contact you for now. Do not reply.