Regents and Skirts

The journey 2

The first climb feels impossible. The gown is stopping me.

I climb down.

I hear Mila scoff. I turn to them.

Von is studying me in silence. Good. That's all that matters. I promise I'll show him.

I climb down. 2 chances left.

I immediately rip the hem of my dress to free myself a bit and I hear gasps from Skirts and Regent alike.

Lucas let out an excited laugh.

I climb again. But the passage the dress gives me is not enough. I climb down

I look up and see Odette shaking her head in fear. I hear Mila laugh. It's mocking.

the skirts all shaking while the regents looked entertained.

Every Skirt there knew who I was.

This is not my fate.

7 sutras of the Salem.

*There isn't a flower that sprouted without it's seed being broken into two, out of the overflowing pain is the sheer will most visible.

I'll make it across. I promise.

I slap my forehead. This dress wouldn't budge?

Fine then.

My hand reaches for my back as I pull down the zipper and I hear gasps as I push the dress down. Freeing myself completely.

Now I'm in my under garment. Tights and singlet. I climb again.

I hear Odette's little cheer. I hear the Regents whistle.

I want to show the Skirts down there they can make it through. These people don't have two heads.

I make it across. I smile triumphantly. Not the usual stiff way.

But then as I look down I'm shocked. Every elite is taking off their Jewelry and dress. I've never seen anything like it.

My eyes looking down finds Von.

I glare down at him, hoping he doesn't notice. At the last moment he looks up with an expressionless gaze. I glare at him wanting to deck his head.

Checkmate idiot

***********************

Some people still die, but I think it would've been worse.

Mental note. I'm in a new place. A whole new place. I have to leave it all behind. I have to survive.

I am Maria Aoman. I promise myself. I will survive and become the hope of every skirt here.

If possible, put an end to this.

"Man, different butts and busts. That girl up front is one dare devil" I hear a man say.

"And a pretty one. Though I wonder when she'll break" I hear Lucas comment. I can feel gazes behind me but I keep my head held high.

21 years of lesson on composure, now is the time to show off.

"Give them clothes Maria" I hear Von say as he walks from the crowd.

I look at his back. He's grown so much.

"What are you staring at slut?" I hear a voice ask.

I turn to see Mila.

"So excited to show everyone your undergarments" Mila says. She's taunting me

Rule Number 12: except it's a question, even if it's taunting, never reply. The words of my teacher ringing in my ears.

"More excited to disappoint you and survive" I whisper.

"What did you say to me?" She asks.

"I'm cold" I say, ignoring her question, hinting for her to hurry up and get the clothes.

Mila looks at me for a second then laughs.

"And what is that supposed to mean? That I should clothe your fancy ass?"

I scrunched my nose at the word 'ass'. She had called me a slut before too.

It seemed like their tongue is unrefined.

As I turn to her, I ask

"Didn't Sir Von ask you to bring us garments?"

The question earned me a hot slap. The wound on my head hadn't even healed yet.

"Mila" Lucas called to her

"I hate that she feels all high and mighty brother. I just wanted to bring her down to Earth a bit." She says.

I turn to her but I school my expression.

"I apologize if I've done anything wrong Madam Mila" I say.

"There's no sir or madam here. We address ourselves with our names. This is no land of Skirt." Lucas says.

I nod. But I look at Mila again. Hinting that we will need the clothes now.

She looks at me head on but when Lucas gives her a glance, she rolls her eyes and leaves to get the clothes.

That's settled at least. We then keep moving to the inner chambers.

At this point, I don't know where we're going but we just follow.

They're separating us as we keep moving into different areas, some left, some right.

The rest of us keep moving forward, following Lucas.

They take us to a shabby looking hostel and I almost gag from the smell of dead rat perhaps.

Lucas comes before us and stares into our eyes.

"In your land you may have been Elites, but here, you mean less than commoners. I'm sure that you might have had rules over there but here things are different.

Like I said before, your lives mean nothing, so you better adhere to these following rules.

1. You fight your way to the top. Here there are ranks. Can't keep up, loose your head.

2. Your dressing sense is absolutely repulsive, change it please.

3. Here refinement can cause you your head. You remain silent, you get bullied till you loose your head.

4. This is the Neverland, a land for freedom but even freedom is costly. Obey the top rankers no matter what.

5. Get stronger, or get six feet under.

6. Morning exercises are compulsory for all. Grow your bones. You slack, your neck gets snapped.

The rest you'll learn on your own. But there is one more rule.

7. Never betray Von. Or think of lying to him. Do not think of going against him either. Pledge your loyalty.

"Any questions?" Lucas completed