"Tonight, I am fulfilling that promise!"
The governor’s voice thundered, almost making the entire main square shake. Those watching had their mouths fall open.
The silence was brief, but for everyone else, it felt endless. An infinite sound of pure silence that could deafen anyone.
This was the heavily publicized execution, and yet, they felt utterly shocked when that finally sank in.
Slowly, the crowd turned their heads to the stage. Some had their hands over their mouths, eyes tearing up. Others were just utterly shocked by the turn of events. A very few chuckled and snickered, excited about the main event.
Gehran chuckled, nodding approvingly as he could feel the crowd’s attention in this show. This was the first time that everyone was this invested. Surely, he had become better over the years.
"However, since I am not as heartless as Himari or the late governor, tonight’s execution would be different!" he continued, his smile stretching wider. His eyes set to Haji, and then to Himari. "I would be handing my power to your grandson, Himari."
"A power to choose who to save or who he’d choose to be publicly executed!" he added in a knowing tone. "As you can see, there is another cage over there."
And with that, everyone shifted their attention to the other cage. Many had already wondered who those people in the other cage were, but were too preoccupied with Haji, Himari, and the governor.
"For those who had yet heard, Hajime — the missing prince of the forgotten Ha — came back tonight with a few of his friends! However, Hajime has underestimated my power, my people, and my security! So, they were caught before they could even do whatever cursed thing they planned to do here!"
He snickered, thinking about how easy it was to catch Haji. But then again, the one who had given him a headache in the past was not Haji, but Lola. But that would all change tonight.
The governor shook his head mildly and smiled. "Even though Hajime had challenged my authority and had crossed the line many times, I would still give him a chance. Out of respect to his late grandfather, and Himari’s services to my region."
"Hajime," he continued, eyeing the frozen Haji in the center stage. "Before you are keys to the cages on each side stage. The one on the left is the key for Himari’s cage, and the one on the right is the key for your friends."
Scarlet and the squad gritted their teeth, staring at the balcony where the said governor was standing.
"What in the world is this?" Kean hissed through gritted teeth. "How could he... play with people’s lives like this?"
"He shouldn’t have done it, but instead even made an entire full event for his insanity," Tyga blurted out in pure disbelief.
They already knew Ravah was a lawless land, and that the only law recognized here was the men in power. However, they did not expect that a public execution to be this grand, like it was a literal show. Yet, now that their eyes adjusted to the light, they could see some people’s expressions, and they didn’t look like they were here out of fun or curiosity.
As for Scarlet, she gripped the bar as tightly as she could. She glared at the pig in human skin, killing him countless times in her head already.
"If I get out of here, I will not only slit his throat," her voice shook. "I’ll keep slicing it until his head comes off."
But then, she stopped as she sniffed a scent of gasoline. Turning to her side, she saw someone outside the stage pouring gasoline around the cage. The rest of the gang also turned their head as they noticed the scent.
Before they could ask, Gehran’s voice echoed in the speaker, answering the current question in their head.
"Who are you going to save? Your friends, who had come in here with you? Or was it Himari, that old hag who could drop dead any moment?" Gehran’s voice echoed once more. "For the next minute, I will hand you the power, Hajime."
"The power to choose between these two cages," he continued, dragging his words as if that would make it clearer. "However, you do not have plenty of time. The moment the time begins, both cages will be lit up."
He smirked, malicious intent gleaming in his eyes. "By the time the timer ends, the other cage will be completely consumed with fire."
At the same time, the crowd saw people walking up the stage and pouring gasoline on the people inside both cages.
"You only have a minute, Hajime," Gehran flicked his finger, and a large screen on the side displayed a frozen timer. "I’ll give you a minute to ponder on who you’re going to choose, and once this ends, it’ll be a real timer of our little game."
He leaned over the railing, smirking. "I hope you do not regret making a decision. After all, if you do not, both cages will be burned, and you will lose everything."
"You..." Haji seethed, moving his arms slightly. He could move his arms now, but his strength has not yet fully recovered.
Frustrated, he screamed, "I’m gonna fucking kill you, you fucking oink!"
But alas, all that responded was the governor’s diabolical laughter. With the mic still on, his laughter echoed across the city. Even those in their homes couldn’t help but shiver at such evil laughter.
"Fuck!!!" Haji screamed his lungs out, pounding his body against the wooden surface. When he realized it was futile, he paused and snapped his eyes at the screen.
Forty five seconds.
"Shit!" he hissed, panic filling every nerve of his body. He looked at his grandmother and then at the other team.
The crowd, on the other hand, watched this with dread. Some had their eyes stuck on the timer and then darted their eyes at Haji. Even though they were panicked, while some knew that Haji would definitely choose his grandmother.
How could he not choose his own grandmother?
Even those in the other cage sat there in frozen silence, as they also knew Haji would choose his own grandmother. If they were in his situation, they would also choose their flesh and blood.
But then, unfazed by the gasoline poured on her, Himari moved closer to the railing.
"Hajime," she called, and somehow, her voice that wasn’t even using a microphone silenced the entire square. She smiled at Haji with warmth and gentleness, nodding to him.
"Your friends had come here with you to help you," she said, knowing that her grandson used to have a hard time finding friends or even trusting anyone except a few. So, seeing Haji having more friends now put her heart at ease.
Her face softened with peace. "It’s alright to let go of grandma now."