The City of Ionia

The boy or girl? Did he mean…?

“They have nothing to do with this. Don’t get them involved,” Ruby said.

“Bringing them got them involved.”

“Actually, we came out of free will.”

“Jeremy, just zip it and let Ruby talk.”

Augustus lowered the blade. “You came out of free will? Do you not fear what may become of your lives?”

Jeremy rubbed the sweat off his forehead. “I swore to Ruby that I’ll protect her until I can’t move. As long as she is safe, then I’ve done my job.”

“Ya, and I’m here to keep this dummy from doing something stupid,” Harley announced with a straight face.

He looked up at Harley with a smile. “Keep an eye on yourself.”

“I can say the same for you.”

Augustus palmed his face as though he was disturbed. With a tongue click, he grabbed Quinn and pulled him in front of his torso.

Ruby took a subtle step forward. If she went any closer, Quinn could face the consequences of her actions.

“Enough stalling,” he said with two hands on Quinn’s shoulders. The knife was close to Quinn. “Back to my original thoughts. Leader of the Bariac Cult, choose between the boy or the girl who so happened to accompany you.”

“What am I choosing?”

“Which one can see tomorrow.”

“You don’t mean…”

He finished her sentence. “You are choosing their fate. Do you save the silver one, and your guardian dies, or your guardian lives, and the silver one falls?”

“Neither.”

“Then I’ll carve your kid’s face right in front of your eyes.”

The crowd threw their fist in uproar. Ruby couldn’t retaliate. She had to remain calm; otherwise, she risked all of them dying. Augustus had leverage. There was nothing she could do to strip that away from him.

There was nothing she could do.

She looked behind and saw Harley and Jeremy. She promised them they’ll live. It would be awful not to fulfill it.

But what about her son, Quinn? He’s the priority over everyone else, including Harley and Jeremy.

But then…

She looked back at her son, who stayed so strong during all of this. His petite head trembled as though a miniature earthquake erupted within. Though his mouth never opened, his chest rose and fell with great speed. His unphased expression got Ruby to almost smile.

His mother raised a warrior.

She couldn’t let that warrior go.

But she also couldn’t let the people who saved her go.

“Wh–What do you get out of this?” Ruby asked, squeezing her fist.

“What do I get? Well, entertainment.”

“You’re sick, you know that?”

“I’m not self-aware,” he uttered loud enough for those close to hear. And I don’t like getting my time wasted, so hurry up and choose who you want to kill off.”

A hand touched her shoulder, making Ruby jump a little.

“It’s just me,” Jeremy calmly said. “Choose me and save Quinn.”

“Jeremy… I—”

“Hell no,” Harley interpreted. “You’re not doing some stupid heroic sacrifice to boost your pride. I won’t allow it. Ruby, I say we go berserk and kill ‘em all.”

“Take a look around, Harley. Even the strongest fighting group known to man stands no chance. There’s just too many of them. If we fight, all of our lives are at risk. If we comply… then…”

She didn’t dare to spit out the rest of her words.

Jeremy called her name with a subtle voice. “Remember what I told you on the day you saved me. I’ll repay the favor one day. And today is that day. Without you saving me, I wouldn’t even be standing with you. You saved me. The least I can do is save you.”

Ruby’s face was on the edge of collapsing. Keeping composure became increasingly difficult. She had to hold onto her strength. If she exposed any weakness, Augustus could use it to his advantage.

She fought her emotions, shoving them in a closet.

“Enough of this,” said Harley, “Jeremy, you ain’t throwing yourself away. As the older and more responsible person, I’ll sacrifice myself so this dummy doesn’t have to.”

“Who you calling dummy, dummy?”

“The classic comeback with my own words. You couldn’t think of anything else?”

Jeremy instantly looked away. “Ruby, hurry up and pick me so I don’t have to listen to this witch.”

“Hu—Wh—Wh—Wha—What?! You called me a what? You know, I hope Ruby picks you so I don’t have to eat your vomit-worthy food.”

“Oh ya?”

“Yah.”

“Well, I hope Ruby picks you so my eyes don’t burn from your hideous outfits.”

Harley took a step back. “My outfits are nothing but amazing. They aren’t…” A single tear streamed down her face. “They aren’t,” she repeated with unease. With a step forward, she leaned and clung to Jeremy. “Who am I… going to mess with?”

She slid down onto her knees, tears flying out of her eyes. Everyone watched in silence. For a group that delivers despair to people’s doorsteps, not a single one seemed lively.

Jeremy fell to an equal height with tears of his own. They clung to each other like never before.

They clung to each other as though it was the last time.

Augustus spoke. “Who's it gonna be?”

While the two continued to express their emotions, Ruby was tasked with an impossible choice. She couldn’t choose between them. It was impossible. The question was similar to someone asking a child: Who do you love more, mom or dad? It can go both ways, leaving it impossible to answer.

Jeremy dragged the clingy Harley, facing Augustus. He must’ve heard him.

“She’s picking me.”

Ruby rapidly blinked. She couldn’t look at him. It was like she was living in an endless nightmare.

“I want to hear it from her,” he replied with a grin.

She stood with her feet glued to the ground. Her legs didn’t quiver. Instead, they were still as a pillar.

Don’t show weakness, she repeated more times than she could count.

What she was tasked to do wasn’t difficult. Simply say his name. That’s all. On paper, anyone can do that. What made it so painful was the situation.

Her saying Jeremy’s name would make it clear that she is sending him to his death rather than him acting on his own. The burden would weigh more than all the mountains in the world combined. It would essentially shatter her.

If she didn’t have to say his name, she could convince herself that he acted out of free will. Sure, she would blame herself, but subconsciously, there’s room for sugarcoating.

Augustus ensured that didn’t happen, forcing Ruby to say Jeremy’s name.

There was no choice but to do so.

She mumbled under her breath. “Je—Jeremy.”

Augustus stepped in. “Say it louder? I couldn’t hear you.” His grin remained intact.

Remain calm. Stay strong. Show no weakness. One slip-up and worse can happen. Breathe, but not too loud—no more thoughts. Free the mind.

Everything will be fine.

She lifted her head, eyes sharp enough to slice through concrete.

“Jeremy. I chose Jeremy.”

He exchanged looks at his guards on both sides of him. A devious look plagued their disgusting faces.

“Get the girl,” Augustus said.

“Huh?”

A circle of bandits formed around the three. Spears pointed straight at them, and they had nowhere to move. They closed in until their backs touched.

More swarmed in and snatched Harley. She tried fighting back, but one punch to the head was enough to knock her unconscious. They dragged her through traffic to the corner.

“Take me, not her!” Jeremy cried as he attempted to squeeze through the spears. He shuffled back and forth, looking for an opening. Their formation was too tight. Noticing an opening was slim to none.

And even if he did, what could he do?

“Do you not know how I operate? You should’ve known I don’t take requests seriously,” he said with his prideful grin.

“She has nothing to do with this. I forced her to come. Please, take me instead! Ruby, say something! Tell him to take me!”

What could she say? No words could change the situation.

“Ruby! Please! I beg you!”

“Jeremy,” she muttered. “There’s nothing we can do.”

Fighting would make it worse. Talking would be pointless. Negotiating failed. She came intending to save Quinn and walk away with everyone. She promised no one will die. Was she really going to stand there and do nothing?

Was she going to stand with one of her closest friends on the chopping block?

Jeremy grabbed both her shoulders and squeezed. “No! There has to be something! Please! Please do something!” He lowered his head with a weak posture. “You promised us…”

Ruby fought back the tear that almost leaked. She shoved it in a closet, temporarily locking it away. Her fingers gripped her cheek as she nearly suffocated herself with her palm.

Quinn was safe. He wasn’t hit or hurt. He was okay. She didn’t want to risk any chances of that. Even if she did risk it, what would she do?

She couldn’t think of anything logical but to follow through on what Augustus wanted.

“It’s… my fault.”

If she didn’t bring them, they wouldn’t be here. She should’ve listened to Guvin’s warning. Why didn’t she? Why did she loosen up, then?

It’s my fault—it’s my fault, it’s my fault, it’s my fault, it’s my fault!

If she weren’t so careless, the situation would be different.

If she weren’t so blind, the situation would be different.

But there’s no going back. Nothing could undo these events.

Augustus parted the formation as he walked through. “Leader of the Bariac Cult, Ruby, I gracefully spared your kid. Not everyone is lucky for such treatment. You should be grateful. In exchange for me not killing your kid, I demanded either the death of the boy or the girl. Since you picked the boy, it’s only natural that I chose the girl. Like I would ever let you have your choice. Hmph, hmph, hmph. Naiveness is a horrific sin.” He pointed his index finger to the back corner. “You see that pole over there? That’s where the silver-haired lady will spend her last bit of life—bounded by ropes with nowhere to go. A stab to the body, and boom, blood rushes like a party. Guess who will be delivering that party?” He looked at her dead in the eyes with a miniature squat. “That’s right, you will. You will murder your comrade for the price of murdering mine.”