The City of Ionia

Alone, she lay on the bench without worry. Her defenseless chest barely raised and fell. She cradled her chest in hopes of preserving as much heat as possible.

Her hair was usually either loose or kept in braided pigtails. Black was her signature style. Everything she wore had to be black. But her appearance slightly changed. Her hair was silky cinnamon, covering her upper back, and her outfit matched the glum clouds. How disgusting.

Sylvia loomed over her with a dagger pressed against her thigh. She could’ve ended her right here if she chose to. But what fun is that?

Jill’s dream was extravagant. To get into the city and to somehow create a world where they could live together. She told the king it wouldn’t be possible since SCAR was in the way, as if he didn’t already know that.

What she told the king wasn’t anything new. He was well aware of the brutality SCAR imposed on the Ionians. He knew everything that went on in Ionia, but he still never acted upon it. Why should a king care about land besides his own?

That was a stupid thing to say. He never cared about his own land. Sylvia didn’t blame him once she learned he never wanted that life.

What amused Sylvia was that the king knew Jill could not find a way into the city. She couldn’t agree more. He gave her some years before she had to report back to him. In those years, she almost found a way—almost. But the second visit to the house scarred her for life.

Even though she was merciless, she was still too scared to protect herself. That’s why she had to rely on others. And that’s how they all ended up slaughtered.

Sylvia squatted to her level, whispering, “My, my, wake up so I can stab your eye out.”

The person in front of her was the one she despised the most. She hated Jill with a passion, with all her heart, with everything the world had to offer. She was the one thing she hated.

Back then, Jill left Sylvia without any sympathy. She grabbed her friend and left her alone to rot in a cage. Sylvia was ecstatic once she found out what happened that day. Karma was a merciless miracle. But that wasn’t enough. She had a dream.

How lovely. Sylvia had a dream, too. She wanted to escape the place she was in. She had a chance, but Jill rejected it. She left her and ignored her like a pile of pebbles that were just there.

Sylvia vowed to do the same. She wanted to put her in such a hell where she wouldn’t be able to reach the city. She tried to take her friends and feed them to the vultures. She wanted to reject her dream, just like Jill did to hers.

She got up, pointing her dagger at her neck. “Ignorant piece of shit.”

There was a flame of rage within, but she controlled the urge not to stab her.

She wanted to savor the moment for later.