Trigger warnings- Blackmail, swearing, shooting mention and a character death.

Raven's plan was a dangerous one. Kaiden wasn't sure if it would work. Then again, he had said that they needed one of Raven's ideas. They might as well give his idea a chance.

"So we sneak in through the back door, taking out each of the dictator's guards as we go until we reach the dictator's office. Then we force him to sign our contract. He's got no choice but to agree if everything goes according to the plan." Raven explained.

"Is everyone ready?" Kaiden asked.

"Ready," they replied in unison.

Kaiden led the way as they snuck around to the back of the dictator's mansion. The whole building was surrounded by a high wall with pillars every few metres. The wall was adorned with spikes for added security supposedly. The plan was to use a rope to climb over it.

The only problem was that the weather had taken a turn. The sky was turning dark and a light drizzle of rain had started to fall. The wind was also blowing up a lot.

"Maybe this isn't such a good idea right now," Finley said nervously.

"No," Kaiden replied, "we can do this."

Kaiden tied a loop at one end of the rope and threw it towards the top of the wall. The loop hooked around one of the pillars on his first go.

"That's why you're on every sports team at school," Cadence teased.

"Yep, sports is the only thing I'm good at," Kaiden replied.

He pulled the rope tight and started pulling himself up. With the rain and the wind, it gave him awful memories of the Ceremony. Trying to climb up that cliff was not something he wanted to be reminded of.

He was happy when he reached the top and he was able to pull himself up onto the wall.

Kaiden took the rope off of the pillar and gathered it up. He lowered the end of the rope with the loop on it.

Finley moved to go first but Raven stopped him. "If he drops someone, I'd rather it be me than anyone else."

Kaiden didn't drop him.

Finley went second. Raven grabbed him as soon as he could reach him and pulled him up. He took the rope off of him and Kaiden gave Finley a kiss.

Adrielle went next and lastly, Cadence.

Once they were all up, Kaiden jumped down to the ground on the other side.

Raven did the same.

Kaiden caught each of the others as they jumped down. His leg was hurting again from the impact, but he didn't show it.

They snuck around to the back door and forced it open.

As they charged down the hall, they knocked out each of the guards one by one. Not one was able to fight back.

Finally, they reached their destination.

Kaiden pushed open the door and watched as the dictator turned around in horror.

"Kaiden," he hissed. "Guards!" He shouted.

"They're all knocked out," Kaiden snapped. "There's no one to help you. Anyway, let's get down to business."

"We have a few demands," Cadence explained.

"And a contract of our own," Raven added.

"You're all traitors. I don't know why you're continuing with this. You must be stupid." The dictator replied.

"You can call us what you like," Adri snapped. "We're not giving up."

"So what's your plan?" The dictator questioned. "If any of you lay a finger on me, I assure you, you'll be killed in an instant."

"We don't want to kill you," Kaiden replied. "We just have a contract that we'd like you to take a look at."

"Maybe Finley should take a better look at the one that he signed first."

"Why?" Finley asked, "you explained it all."

"Did I?" The dictator hissed. "Maybe you should take a better look."

The dictator removed the contract from a drawer. Kaiden stepped forward and read it. The terms of the contract were exactly as Finley described. It was only when Kaiden read the fine print that the dictator's comment made sense.

By signing this document, I hereby promise to lead the dictator's guards into battle. I will not, under any circumstance, rejoin the rebels. I understand that by doing so, I shall forfeit any rewards I would have gained from this agreement. By rejoining the rebels, I understand that myself and the other Champions will be tortured and killed, in front of Kaiden Lynch, after which, he will be killed also.

As Kaiden read the last line aloud, Finley looked close to breaking into tears. It had all been for nothing. The Champions were going to be killed.

"You tricked him into signing it," Raven argued. "You knew that he'd rejoin us. You never planned to let us live, did you?"

"Of course not," the dictator replied. "You are rebelling against the country that I have been running for over forty years. I have every right to want you dead."

"I'm sorry," Finley said. "I thought I could save us. All I've done is mess things up, just like I always do."

"Hey, you didn't mess anything up," Kaiden replied, signalling for Finley to come and hug him. "He forced you to sign it. You thought that you were doing a good thing."

"You said you've got your own contract for me to look at," the dictator interrupted.

"Yes, we do," Raven snapped, pulling a sheet of paper from his pocket. "I'll explain what it says."

Raven began reading their list of demands. It included everything that the Champions wanted for the country, its people, and their families.

"I will not sign it," the dictator said when Raven had finished.

"Why not?" Kaiden asked.

"Well I am gaining nothing from it. If I am signing a contract full of demands like that, I want it to be worth my while."

"What would you want from it?" Adri questioned.

"To kill all of you."

"Well that's not going to happen," Kaiden replied, "but I have a counter offer."

"What's that?"

"If you sign that contract right now, and you agree to leave our families alone, you can torture and kill me in any way you please."

"No!" The others shouted.

"Kaiden, you can't!" Finley exclaimed. He was looking pleadingly into his eyes, begging him not to do this.

"There's no other way, songbird. I'm sorry, but I have to do this."

"Fine," the dictator replied, "I suppose I can agree to that. Hand me your contract."

"Kaiden, are you sure that there's no other way?" Raven asked.

"None of us have any ideas left," Kaiden said. "Just hand him the contract."

After a few moments of hesitation, Raven did so.

They all watched as the dictator signed his name.

"Well, your career is officially over," Kaiden smirked.

"What on earth do you mean?" The dictator questioned.

"You probably should've read the fine print," Finley replied, sarcastically.

Kaiden took the contract from the dictator's hands and read the fine print out loud.

I also understand that by signing this contract, I agree to resign as the dictator of this country and pass its leadership to one of the Champions to be elected by a public vote.

—-----

"You cannot be serious," the dictator said.

"You signed it," Kaiden argued, "so you have to follow it now."

"I wouldn't trust any of you to run this country. The country will be in anarchy in less than a week."

"Well as long as they're able to scrap the Ceremony and they don't go around killing a three year old girl's mother, I think they'll be doing a fine job."

"Two days and you won't be here to argue about such matters."

"I suppose that will make you very happy."

"It will indeed," the dictator replied.

"Well, we'll bid you farewell I suppose. When would you like to hold this election?" Kaiden asked.

"Tomorrow. Then you can die knowing who's going to be left to fix the mess you left behind."

Kaiden gave a mock bow. "As you wish."

—-----

The Champions once again retired to the hotel.

"Kaiden, you shouldn't have done that," Adri said.

"He was going to kill all of you," Kaiden argued. "I just saved your lives."

"By letting him kill you instead," Cadence complained.

"Is this because I tried to give up my life for you in the Ceremony?" Finley asked.

"Oh K please don't say that's what this is about," Raven questioned.

"No," Kaiden replied, though Finley could see that he was lying. "I caused this mess in the first place in the finale of the Ceremony. I'm the only one who deserves to die."

"That's not true Kaiden," Cadence argued. "No one here deserves to die."

"I do!" Kaiden shouted. "I'm useless and good for nothing! It's not like anyone except the five of you will care that I'm gone anyway. Our dad told us on the day of the Selection that we'd be dead in less than a day."

"He really didn't believe in you?" Adri asked.

"I'm surprised he even came to say goodbye. I was a horrible person before the Ceremony and during it. Fin tried to give up his life for me. Want to know the worst thing? I wouldn't have cared the other way around?"

Finley couldn't bear to listen anymore. He ran out of the room.

—-----

"Fin, wait!" Kaiden called, moving to follow him.

"Leave it," Adri snapped, heading for the door to go after him herself. "You've done enough."

"I can understand why you offered yourself to the dictator," Cadence said, "but none of us expected you to."

"No one expected you to take the blame for Raven for the idea of jumping off the train. So, why did you?" Kaiden asked.

"I wanted to save Raven from being punished for it."

"Why? I know you said it was to pay me back for saving you from Antonio, but I think there's more to it than that."

"Oh, I might as well tell you."

"Tell us what?" Raven questioned.

"Ever since I first saw you. I wanted to talk to you, but I never had enough courage. Everyday I told myself that it would finally be the day. When Fin and I turned ten, I was going to ask him to talk to you, then our mother died, and I never asked Fin to talk to you about it."

"What?"

"Raven, I've had a crush on you for twelve years."

"Why haven't you said anything until now?" Raven asked.

"Well, when we were chosen for the Ceremony, I thought that was it. We were going to die. I know I came off as really confident, but even then I knew that no matter which of us played the game, we weren't getting out of there alive. Then when Fin was able to win, I was so desperate to talk to you, but you were more interested in Adri. I tried to make you like me by telling you what really happened to Kaiden's leg and taking the blame for you for the train thing. You never saw it that way, so eventually, I gave up trying."

"Cade, I'm so sorry. I wouldn't mind giving you a chance?"

"What about Adrielle?"

"I don't think it's going to work out."

"Is it ok if I take some time to think about things?" Cadence asked.

"Take all the time you need."

—-----

Kaiden eventually had a chance to talk to Finley by himself. The two of them were sitting in an alley.

Finley hugged him and cried into his shoulder. Kaiden pulled Finley closer to him. Finley rested his head on Kaiden's lap, as he began playing with Finley's hair.

"I'm so sorry, songbird," he said.

"I just want to know why," Finley replied. "Why do you insist on dying like a martyr?"

"I wanted to die a hero, but I don't think I've achieved that."

"You'll always be my hero," Finley muttered, as he started crying again.

"I wanted to ask you a favour."

"What?"

"When....," Kaiden couldn't seem to get the words out. "W-when I'm gone, don't mourn me for too long. Don't spend years thinking about me. I want you to be happy. As long as you're happy, I will be too."

"Then you'll never be happy again," Finley replied, "'cause I don't want to be with anyone else. I just want you. I'll never love anyone like I love you. You mean everything to me."

"You mean everything to me too, but you can't think like that songbird. You've got to find someone else."

Finley stood up. "I don't want anyone else!" He shouted. "I just want you!"

"Well that's not possible, Fin."

"I don't want you to die!"

"I don't want to die either, Fin, but it has to be like this. It was either me, or all of you."

"I'll tell him I'll die instead. I don't want to live without you."

Kaiden stood up. He placed a hand on Finley's shoulder. "I won't let you do that. I can't live without you."

"So why do you expect me to?!"

"I don't. I wish I could be with you forever songbird, but it's too late now. If you love me this much, promise me one thing."

"What?"

"If you're elected dictator, ask Raven to be your head guard."

"Why?"

"'Cause he'll be just as broken as you will be after I'm gone. He'll need something to distract himself, and a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Take care of him, he'll be lost without me."

"We all will," Finley replied. "Even Cadence has been crying for hours about this. She didn't even like you two weeks ago. Adri cried on my shoulder when she was comforting me earlier, and Raven is already refusing to eat or talk to anyone. We're all like this and you're still here!"

Finley was sobbing now. Tears flowed down his face, dripping on his guard uniform.

"Finley Castel," Kaiden said.

Finley looked up upon hearing Kaiden say his full name.

Kaiden went on, "I love you. I will always love you. All of you. Yes, I'll be dead, but I'm going to be remembered by all of you. That's all that matters to me. I want you to live in a world where people aren't punished for being twins. Where you and everyone else can be equals, and one where all of you are as happy as you can be without me."

Finley didn't reply for a while as he once again cried into Kaiden's shoulder. When he did speak, he stammered a lot as he asked, "Kaiden,.....a-are you scared of d-dying?"

Kaiden brushed his hand through Finley's hair as he answered, "yes, songbird, more than anything else I've ever done. The Ceremony, telling my dad about you, starting the rebellion, nothing compares to this. I have never been more scared of anything in my life."

—-----

Two days later, after being tortured for sixteen hours straight, the dictator was finally ready to kill Kaiden.

A large post had been set up in the centre of the Citadel. This was where Kaiden was now, tied to the post, with his hands tied behind his back.

A stage had been erected in front of him so that the dictator could announce the results of the election.

"Greetings people," the dictator began. "You are all aware of the election which took place yesterday to elect our new dictator. Well, here is the result of it."

The dictator opened an envelope. He raised his eyebrows and huffed before he read out the winner. "Your new dictator is...Finley Castel."

Kaiden looked over to where Finley and the others were standing. Finley looked at him and smiled. Kaiden smiled back.

"Come up to the stage and give your first speech as the dictator," the dictator said.

Finley reluctantly went up to the stage.

He cleared his throat before he spoke, "I honestly didn't think that it would be me who was elected, so thank you. When my number came up on the screen on the day of the Selection, I believed that it was an omen of death. I could've died so many times, but somehow, I didn't. Then, after the Ceremony was over, I became friends with four of the greatest people I have ever met. One of them even became more than that. Adrielle, thank you for saving me from Adam. Reina, thank you for listening to me when I told you to run from that guard. Cadence, thanks for being the best sister anyone could ask for. Raven, thank you for everything."

Finley paused for a moment, "I know it's not customary for a dictator to choose their head guard so soon, but I'd like to change that. I'd like to ask Raven to be my head guard. Lastly, Kaiden, I'm sorry that's ended like this. I promise that I will never forget you and the way you helped lead the rebellion. I know you don't believe it yourself, but you are the kindest, bravest, smartest person I have ever met. I am proud to have been your boyfriend, even for a short time. I wish we could be together forever, but I will never stop loving you."

Finley stepped off the stage.

The dictator reached for a box and pulled out a gun. The dictator held it up.

He got into position, aiming the gun directly at Kaiden. Kaiden took one last glance at the other Champions.

Then, he closed his eyes.

—-----

Raven could hardly bear to watch. To see his own brother seconds away from death, it was unlike anything he had felt before.

"This is worse than the Selection," he whispered to Finley.

He felt someone brush against his arm, but he didn't bother looking at them.

"I know it is," Finley replied, "but there's no escaping this though."

"Thanks for asking me to be your head guard. I accept by the way."

"I wouldn't have wanted anyone else. Except maybe Kaiden, but you're the second best choice, logical, smart and surprisingly good in a fight."

"Thanks Fin."

The dictator had his gun lined up. Ready to fire. Raven noticed that Kaiden's eyes were shut.

"I love you Kaiden!" Finley called as a shadow passed by them and an earsplitting bang rang through the air.

"I love you too songbird!" Kaiden shouted back, just as the bullet struck.

Just then, a second shot rang out, and the dictator's body collapsed on the stage.

Well, Kaiden's dead. I'm so sorry for how depressing this chapter is. I hope you're not crying too much. How do you think this will wrap up? Will Finley be able to make it through this? Will Raven be ok? And who killed the dictator?

Find out in Chapter 35!