Chapter 16: Contestants

"What if I'm picked?!" Leo said, completely hyper on the caffeine as he bounced his knee on the floor, shaking, annoying Alex effectively.

"You won't be picked, the Principal handpicks everyone to fight against Glendale. I will probably be picked since I'm the strongest in the school, then maybe my old bodyguards and Conner," Leo grimaced at that name. He no longer beat on him, but the teenager was still cruel in many different ways than just one.

"That's it, just the four of you?" He asked curiously, knowing there were six people in total that'd they'd have to fight with Glendale. Alex shook her head.

"No, I'm sure the Principal has two more people in mind, but I'm not sure as to who. Flynt is still out of commission since he took an ass-whooping a few weeks ago, I heard he broke twenty bones."

"Sounds like he messed with the wrong guy," Leo responded easily, smiling lightly. Alex saw the smile and it unnerved her, but kept quiet. She would get her answers sooner or later.

"Perhaps," She looked at the electronic board that would list the fighters against the Glendale fighters, the rest of the school in the same gymnasium that they resided in, everyone on their toes, waiting for the roster to be revealed.

"Hello everyone," The Principal announced as he walked on stage, a large flat-screen TV behind him as he held a tiny remote in his right hand. He had light grey hair that was neatly swept to the side with a mustache that curled around his lips, making it look like a hairy caterpillar that had crawled on his face.

He wore a grey business suit with a black tie with a pair of brown dress shoes.

"Welcome to the 50th Anniversary for the Brikston vs. Glendale!" He announced, a grin on his face as everyone cheered, obviously excited and hyped for the upcoming event. "And today, we will be announcing our candidates to represent Brikston!" Another wave of cheers erupted from the crowd.

The Principal took a few steps aside, revealing the TV entirely as he pressed a button on the remote he held, a picture of Alex showing up. "First we have Alex Rivers, who has led our school to victory for the last two years," Alex stood up, glancing at Leo for a second.

"See ya in a bit," She whispered. Leo gave her a soft smile in return. She walked up on stage, bowed to the Principal, and sat on one of the six chairs that were next to the Principal.

"Next, we have Gregory Hamill," A tall teen that rivaled Timothy's muscles stood, a cocky smirk on his face. He had light brown hair that was gelled up in a small spike at the top of his forehead. He walked on stage and sat down next to Alex, where she gave him a brief greeting with a nod, which he returned silently. "Then, we have Conner Siesel, who helped us win these last four years!"

The crowd cheered as Conner stood up, bowing, his sandy blonde hair hiding his sea-green eyes, a smirk on his face. He confidently walked up onto the stage and sat down next to Gregory, the two speaking quietly to one another.

"Now, we have Hao Sasaki!" The Principal said as a boy of Vietnamese descent quietly walked up to the stage, bowing low to the Principal before sitting, causing many of the students among the gym to begin laughing.

"Now, Ricky Barnes," An average looking teen with stood up, everything about him just yelling, 'don't notice me'. He walked onto the stage and sat down, crossing his legs over each other, crossing his arms over his chest.

"And finally, we have Leo Apollyon!" Leo froze in his seat, unable to move. Why? Why did he have to fight? Why did he have to be beaten up by his old comrades? Whose idea of a sick joke was this?

"Get up you asshat, the Principal won't wait all day!" A teen said from behind Leo, flicking him in the ear, causing Leo to stand straight up, wobbling as he did so as he slowly walked onto the stage, sitting down next to the boy named Ricky, the numbness spreading across his body like a wildfire.

"This is a trap," He whispered under his breath, but Ricky heard him, sending Leo a weird look. "This is some kind of trap, I know it."

"Calm down," Ricky whispered. "It's like a tournament, you're allowed to forfeit." Leo looked at Ricky with confused eyes, the plain boy not even looking at him, just keeping his eyes straight.

"What?" Leo whispered. "I'm allowed to forfeit?" A slight nod was Leo's answer.

"But," Ricky began, his mouth not even moving. "You will be remembered for being a coward and a weakling for the rest of your life. This tournament is broadcasted across the country, you will never find a job, nor be respectable.

"You will also be bullied a lot worse than you are now. What you've experienced is but a taste of the cruelty that Brikston Students offer." Was that even possible? He's had bones broken, busted lips, concussions, everything really, but that just a taste?

"You know of me?" Another slight nod was seen from Ricky.

"Everyone knows of you, the school pariah. It's amusing, they call you to trash, and yet, they are the real trash, to follow a system based on someone's physical prowess alone? It's wrong." Leo agreed wholeheartedly. Who was this guy?

". . . and so, I hope you six will lead us to our 50th victory against Glendale, I look forward to your battles!" And with that finisher, the bell rang, dismissing everyone for the rest of the day.

"I bet one of those assholes bribed the Principal into putting you on the list," Alex said, crossing her arms over her chest. Leo nodded.

"Yep, I have no doubt that Jonah is the reason behind this. He's a crafty bastard," He then stopped and looked at Alex, worry in his eyes, wanting to plead with her to forfeit if she faced Jonah, but he knew her well enough she would take offense to that.

Besides, then she'd be even more suspicious of him, and he couldn't have her finding out the truth.

Not yet.

They were sitting on a bench together, watching Hayden as he played on the playground, the four-year-old climbing up and down a slide, giggling to himself.

"He really is cute," Alex commented as she watched Hayden slide down the slide. "He doesn't really look like you though." Leo shrugged.

"He gets most of his features from his father, we're not full-blooded siblings, just half-siblings. We share the same mother, but a different father." Leo gave her a small smile. "I take most of my features from my mom though!" Alex noticed a hidden tension and wondered if she should delve into it or not.

Why not?

"So, how come I don't see your parents then? Or Hayden's father for that matter either?" Leo frowned a mist in his eyes, in another place.

"My father died when I was a child. I was never close to him, so it didn't hurt at all. My mother died shortly after giving birth to Hayden, and Hayden's father walked out on him after he found out he couldn't take over Apollyon Industries."

"That's terrible, I'm sorry," Alex said sympathetically. Leo shook his head.

"Don't be, you didn't kill them, besides," He looked at Hayden. "As long as I have him, I won't really need anything else."

"I feel the same for my siblings," Alex said, closing her eyes as she pictured her younger siblings. "I just wish my older brother was still here with us." Leo rose an eyebrow, sitting up as he looked at her with worry and concern.

"What happened? If you don't mind, that is." Alex shook her head.

"It's fine, I'll tell you." She took a deep breath before speaking. "But first, I need to tell you the truth." He rose an eyebrow. She met his hazel eyes with her red and took another deep breath, shaking slightly. "I am not the Red Reaper." Leo's eyes widened before he grinned.

"I already knew that," Her eyes widened at that.

"Y-You did?" She asked, stuttering slightly. Leo nodded, a grin still on his face.

"Yep, the Red Reaper wasn't a woman. I did a lot of research on him after the war, but I still couldn't figure out his identity, but all I know is that he's around our age and a boy." Alex nodded understandingly.

"I see, that makes things easier I guess. Please don't tell anyone," Leo nodded.

"Cross my heart," He even did the little X on his heart, causing Alex to laugh slightly before she became more serious.

"Well, my brother was killed by the Red Reaper." Leo froze at that statement, his heart suddenly beating a hundred beats per second. "His name was Proture Rivers, he was with the New Confederacy, but I still loved him. I saw him die by the hands of the Red Reaper."

"Oh my god," Leo whispered in what Alex thought was sympathy but was pure horror.

He killed her brother.

And she was the Crimson Cloak.