CHAPTER 4, THE LEGAL STING , CHAPTER 5, THE FINAL WALK
237 Words
The morning of the Cincinnati finals arrived with a gray, heavy sky. Blessing sat in a black sedan three blocks from the arena with Wisdom and a lawyer.
"The lab results are in," Wisdom said. "It’s an intentional neurotoxin. Vanity didn't just want to win; she wanted to erase Charity."
Blessing looked at the arena. She knew that inside, Vanity had already struck again—stealing Charity’s specialized makeup bag to ensure the world saw the "freak" she had created. "She won't hide today," Blessing told the lawyer. "We’re taking back her face.
Backstage, the air was thick with hairspray and malice. Charity stood before the mirror, her bare, mottled skin exposed. Across the room, Vanity buffed her nails, smirking.
"Don't hide it," a voice whispered. It was Karma. She looked at her mother, then back at Charity. "Show them what she did. It’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever worn because it’s the truth."
The announcer boomed: "And now, our final contestant... Charity!"
Charity stepped into the spotlight. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The judges leaned forward, horrified. But Charity didn't falter. She marched with a powerful stride. At the end of the runway, right in front of Vanity, she stood perfectly still, letting the harsh stage lights highlight every chemical burn on her skin. The silence was broken by a standing ovation that shook the building.
- Writer
