The bubble deformed without fanfare or celebration. The entire stadium glared at the winner of the tournament, the sixth high-ranker for the class of 2013.

  “And we have your winner, Ladies and gentlemen!” Major Shange started, the microphone in her hands shaking as she glanced at the crowd glaring at her, “And what a winner he has turned out to be! I hope you enjoyed this year’s B-ranker tournament as much as I did!”

  Why were they all such failures? How could every single one of the B rankers I placed against him lose in such a way? My hands shook, my teeth cracked as my heart hammered against my chest.

  Mother had left already. I turned to all my high-rankers surrounding me, all of them glancing at each other.

  “...Sofia?” Selena asked cautiously.

  I could not speak, because I knew the tears would come. I held onto the mask with everything I had, just nodding, before I turned and looked down on the arena for the final time.

  Both contestants had appeared facing each other once again, as if ready to start the match. The moment Marnus appeared, he gasped for air, falling back onto his butt, gasping and inspecting his arm like he didn’t believe it had reattached. He looked at Boris, standing across from him, his expression one of utter horror.

  We left for the platform. Every single person in this booth looked at me with sheer hatred when I passed them, as if I were to blame. Selena walked next to me, our hands gently touching every so often.

  They were mocking me, all of them. They saw me as a failure. Mother would never let me take her place now. I couldn’t even outmaneuver one civvie. Not even Slava had stayed behind to comfort me. My eyes rebelled, tears rolling down my cheeks without my say so. I wiped at them furiously, trying to pull the mask back on.

  I arrived at my allotted place, the same entryway the B rankers used to enter their matches. My high rankers formed up neatly behind me, and my failure for B rankers formed up behind them.

  And before me stood every prominent high ranker. Vasili, Warren, and Colonel Walker were in the front, standing side by side right behind Slava. Slava stood alone, his golden Halo seen above even the tallest members standing before me.

  And Mother stood at the head of all of them, her back straight, her posture perfect. How could I ever be in the same position now that I had proven myself a failure?

  “And now, as is tradition, we welcome our new high-rankers!” Major Shange’s voice echoed, fireworks going off.

  And then Mother strode forward, her posture unwavering as she ascended the steps of the platform, waving to the crowd the exact same as last year. She must have rehearsed it, because every year when I watched the reruns of her speeches, her entrance was the same. The same steps, the same hand motion, the same tilt of her head. Only the speech was different.

  The high-rankers walked forward together in perfect unison, and we followed not long after. I always expected to walk out to fanfare, to chants of my name, but every eye in the stadium was on me. I could feel it. They were blaming me for this. Like I was at fault. Like the incompetents walking behind me were free from guilt.

  I ascended the stairs, far more numerous than when seen from overhead. I was five steps away from the top, when through the bodies, he was revealed. There, with a shield strapped to his arm, his very posture bent with hate, stood Boris. And he was glaring at me.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  We all lined up together, as Mother stood center stage, her face plastered on all the large screens around us. She took the microphone from Major Shange with a nod of thanks, before walking back and forth along the platform.

  “Once again our ranks have expanded, and once again our ranks have dwindled. We celebrate the newest blessed, but we do not forget those who have been lost. To those who share their year with my daughter but do not stand with us on this platform, do not fret. You stand on the shoulders of giants. We shall continue to climb, continue to expand so that one day soon, we can face the real enemy. The ones who hide behind their ocean, cowering in their false freedoms. The ones who stole Alexander from us, who do not understand that every creature slain is a life saved, that every floor conquered is a continent that lives to see another day. This is your legacy! The fruits of your devotion! And in return, they tried to kill us all! We shall remind them of their place, for soon the whole world will cower before us! We shall avenge our leader, and take our rightful place at the head of humanity! For Kaleidos! For Alexander!”

  The crowd had been captivated, and once again found their voice. They cried out as one, “For Kaleidos! For Alexander!” Each chant shook the stadium, the promise of our vengeance echoing throughout the tower.

  Mother turned to Boris, handing him his black cloak. The ascended B ranker always received the first black cloak. And for the first time, that B ranker met this great honour with a sneer. He spat to the side, then held the cloak away from him with two fingers as if it were riddled with disease.

  I fumed, looking at the utter disrespect the man had for something so significant. I looked at Mother, but she wasn’t even looking at him. She was looking at me, and she nodded. I stood rooted to the spot, frozen in the moment until Selena gave me a slight shove in my back.

  Right, I am meant to accept the next black cloak. My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I approached, accepting the gift she handed me with slight amusement in her eyes.

  When the B-rank tournament was over, all the new high-rankers were to line up in the center of the platform, where our faces would be streamed throughout the entire tower. Every blessed would know our faces, not just the ones on holiday who could attend the arena in person.

  I took a deep breath, attempting to calm myself as I came and lined up next to the civvie. Calder fell in beside me after receiving his, and then all the others followed suit.

  I stared straight ahead, my back straight, my eyes focused forward, on the future. A perfect imitation of Mother. I glanced to my left, and he was staring at me. I could see the gears turning, the first time a thought had probably entered his head, as he finally looked away.

  I wanted to rub his face in his own cowardice. Every moment he has seen me, he has attempted to harm me, but now that we were in a crowd? He tucks his tail between his legs and does as he’s told.

  Still didn’t keep him from losing, a voice whispered in my ear. I ignored it the best I could, watching Major Shange take the microphone from Mother.

  “I hope you enjoyed that rousing speech from our fearless leader!” Major Shange smirked into the microphone, probably pleased the crowd was happy for once before sighing deeply, as she turned to the man standing beside me, “And now, a word from our newest high ranker!”

  She held the microphone away from her face, speaking softly, “Say something nice, these people are one step away from ripping you apart.”

  Last year, Vanessa Galina’s speech was like every other ascended high ranker's. Short, filled with uhms and uhs, every word filled with the gratitude of achieving an impossible dream.

  Boris took a deep breath, then tore the microphone out of the Major’s hands and went on a tirade, “Hello there finks! Unhappy to see someone this good-looking in a position all you fucks would kill for? My bad, you’d kill for fun anyway, no need for a reward at the end of it. Just wanted to say that my friends fought bravely,” he gestured at me, “despite this bitches involvement!

  Now! Onto the important stuff! People are fucking starving in the street because of all of you! And you!” he turned to Mother, “So-called ‘fearless leader’, is it too much to ask you to look down from this stupid tower and do your job? Feed people? Or is it too difficult after some guy died fifteen years ago? Fucking hell lady, get your shit together! And another thing! All your mother’s are—”

  Major Shange was finally able to wrench the microphone away from him, even as every blessed on stage looked at him like he had gone mad.

  Mother seemed amused by the whole affair, gesturing for Major Shange to hand her the microphone.

  “Well, a fresh perspective among the higher ranks will do us some good. Everyone, thank you for coming. And to all of you,” she said, looking only at Boris, “Welcome. You shall save the world.”