The Wilted Rose

Chapter 74: Two Options

I had enough. I stormed out into the arena.

Red Hood: AND WHAT ABOUT YOU, CINDER! YOU'RE JUST A LACKEY THAT'S IN OVER HER HEAD! 

Cinder: Oh, and the guest of honor appears. Now people, I ask you. Why would a boy who died ten years ago be doing alive? What would he be doing dressing up and playing hero, committing all of these crimes all while claiming that he's bringing people to justice. Wake up. He's just a little boy who lost everything and is grasping for anything to make him feel as if he has control. Violent tendencies run in the family apparently. Look what Yang Branwen, Or Xiao Long did to poor Mercury Black. Look what even the youngest did.

The video feed switched to when we were going after Walker. The footage looked like it was recorded from far away but the video was as clear as day. I already knew what was about to be shown. Our fight with the White Fang as we switched the tracks.... And then Rubys accident. The man she knocked from the train that was eviscerated by the signal pole. All caught in high resolutions.

I looked back at Ruby and saw her mortified by that. We didn't tell her for exactly this reason. For just a second, it snapped me out of my rage. I hated seeing her like this. But just like that, everything came back tenfold. 

Cinder: None from that family fight to protect you. They fight for themselves, just like all the rest. 

The crowd started to stir. Cinder was winning. All I could do was continue the fight and hope that I could control this. To convince people not to fall for this. We were on the edge. I was trying to keep us from going over. 

Red Hood: WHAT DO YOU FIGHT FOR!? TO MAKE EVERYONE AS MISERIBLE AS YOU!? YOU TRIED THIS IN ATLAS AND IT FAILED, JUST LIKE IT WILL FAIL THIS TIME! 

Cinder: This is the type of person who Ozpin has working for him. With him protecting people like Y/n Rose, what exactly is he teaching the students at Beacon? First a dismemberment and now this? Huntsmen and Huntress' should carry themselves with honor and mercy, yet I have witnessed neither, and it's no surprise. Just look in the arena at he merciless killer who claims to be your protector. If this is the type of person a headmaster supports, then this is the type of Huntsmen you can expect to come to your aid.

Red Hood: I FIGHT SO THAT NO ONE HAS TO FEEL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT MY FAMILY WENT THROUGH! YOU DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT ME!

Cinder: I only need to look at the mangled, broken bodies that you leave in your wake to know just who you really are. Perhaps you felt that way at one point, but your words and actions conflict. Perhaps Ozpin thought that in defeating Atlas, people would forget their colossal failure to protect Vale when Grimm invaded their streets.

Red Hood: AN ATTACK THAT YOU ORCISTRATED! STOP PLAYING HIGH AND MIGHTY WHEN YOUR THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!

Cinder: Or perhaps this was his message to the tyrannical dictator that has occupied a unsuspecting Kingdom with armed forces. Honestly, I haven't the slightest clue as to who is right and who is wrong, but I know that the existence of peace is fragile and the leaders of our Kingdoms conduct their business with iron gloves. As someone who hails from Mistral, I can attest that the situation there is equally undesirable. Our Kingdoms are at the brink of war and we, the citizens, are left in the dark. So I ask you.... When the first shots are fired.... Who do you really think you can trust?

The line cut, leaving everything in silence. I looked around and found all eyes on me. All of them thinking about what Cinder had said. The worst part.... She wasn't entirely wrong about me. It took all of a second for the crowd to turn. All of them screaming and pointing. Blaming.... As if I had did this. Like I was responsible for everything....