I gingerly lift the heavy gun, allowing Talon to adjust it for me, making sure it’s loaded correctly and ready to fire. He stands behind me, acting as my instructor, and he turns me toward the crowd. I lift my arms, letting him hold my hands to help brace me.
I smile and slightly swivel, aiming the gun at the men I know who want to run, thinking they’re next. I take pleasure in their fear, stopping on each man in the front row, one by one until I turned back to William.
“I’ve made my decision,” I say.
I pull the trigger without waiting for him to plea for his life, shooting him in the head, watching as his body falls to the floor. The deafening silence rings in my ears, and I let Talon take the gun from me.
“My initiation is complete, and I swear my loyalty to this chapter, hoping we can forge through this and make our world a better place. This isn’t about the elite and entitled. It’s about speaking for the voiceless and helping those who need it. Any way we can.” I tip my head down and take the ceremonial crown from the table. Bianca helps put it on my head, and Christos hands me my scepter, adorned with glittering rubies as red as the blood on my hands.
“Bow to Her Majesty,” Talon exclaims, smiling widely, his eyes shining through his mask.
Esteban, Christos, and Leandro kneel first, followed by Bianca and others in the crowd follow suit.
“We’d like to transfer to another chapter,” a man says, speaking up. “You’re not our Queen.”
I remain expressionless and turn toward the men, still standing, refusing to ever bow at my feet, wanting to cling to the past as I blast our way to the future.
So there’s only one thing I can do. If they don’t want to join us, then they will be left behind.
Turning to Talon, I nod my head.
He doesn’t hesitate and shoots each standing man with perfect accuracy, sending them sprawling to the floor.
I turn to the crowd and slam my scepter down, the noise booming through the air.
“I’m calling order to our first meeting under my reign. Welcome to the Looking Glass. From here on out, we vow to help the world. We will not leave destruction in our paths. We will only plant seeds for a better future and a better life. Do you accept this vow?”
“I do,” the crowd says in unison, the voices filled with excitement instead of the monotonous tone I had grown used to.
I turn to Talon and hold out my hand, and he comes to my side. Leandro, Christos, and Esteban fill the space around me, circling me in their strength and love and devotion.
I’m their Queen and they’re my kings. My knights. My protectors. My everything.
And together, we will rise in fame and fortune. We will be known for the good we leave behind. We will never fall. Never bow. Never break.
The world isn’t ours for the taking. The world will be what we make of it. It’ll be a better place, full of wonder, love, and light, and everything I imagined it to be. It’ll be perfect.
The End