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Ace stared down at the dark trial floor, shaking a little bit. His breathing uneven from all the stress that was built up on him. Why. Why had he committed that stupid murder? Because he was so desperate to leave? Maybe anger from almost getting murdered himself and he wanted someone to suffer the same stupid fate he did? Or was it something else entirely?
That didn’t matter now, did it? His fate awaited him, opening its arms to embrace the redhead in its cold, clammy hands.
So… now he was going to die. Haah. Pathetic. It’d suit him well, dying a stupid fate he knew he deserved, but so desperately tried to run away from but never succeed, now would he? Tripping over his own cowardice and falling onto the painfulness of reality. He’d never make it out of this killing game, he’d either die a weak person, or die trying to escape his fate. But isn’t that everything in Ace’s life, a small trap he can never escape?
It doesn’t matter now, the only thing that does is the fact his life is about to end. And it’s all because of his stupid actions. The sounds of everyone quietly murmuring about how Ace could pull off such a thing with an injury, and just how foolish he was to take someone away who wanted to change. How selfish he was. Just how much no one would ever miss him.
Arei had wanted to be a better person. And Ace took that away from her.
“Why.. why did you- you do that to Arei?” Eden sniffled, her hands close to her chest as clear tears ran down her face. Her expression showed nothing but heartbrokenness in its finest. Almost like… him. Someone who always was cheery, positive, maybe even reckless…
“She… She wanted to change! To be a better person! Why would you take that away from her?!” The clockmaker yelled, throwing her fists to her side and clenching her teeth, raw emotion filling her entire tone like it was the only thing she could do.
Ace looked back at the clockmaker with a slightly shook expression. She lost someone she cared about, someone she believed could change. And now she lost that one person. All because of the jockey. And any excuse he’d give would be futile, so he just bit his tongue and hung his head low again, his eyes squeezing shut as he tried to calm his breathing down. As best he could, anyway.
“Well, what an exciting, and long, trial!” MonoTV beamed, putting up one of it’s robotic paws as it’s screen flickered to an excited expression. It’s voice, if it could, was overflowing with excitement for what was to come next, something Ace didn’t want to even imagine. A few beads of sweat slid down his pale face.
“Now it’s time for the main event!” MonoTV grinned, spinning around in its seat before its screen flickered to a “XD” expression. Ace’s breathing almost stopped, throwing his head up to look at MonoTV, muttering ‘no’ over and over again. Grabbing his podium with fear. He wasn’t going to die here- but he was - wasn’t h-
“IITT’SSS PUNISHMENT TIMMEE!!!!” The thing screamed, the sounds of everyone’s muttering becoming louder with people just fearing for the horrid execution awaiting for the Jockey. Even before Ace could say anything against his demise, the metal collar that brought Min to her death clamped around his already sensitive neck, agitating the injury even more than it already had been.
“Gh-!” Ace let out a small yelp as the cold metal chain dragged him away from the podium he was standing at to a newly opened hole in the wall, watching his classmates stare at their own in shock, fear, worry, or even disgust in some cases. Maybe even just a blank expression in the case of David or interested with Veronika. Of course that freak would be interested in someone's execution.
The chain of death (something Ace coined this cursed thing) threw him into a cold, pitch black room unceremoniously, his whole body ached in pain. Blinking a few times, he really couldn't see anything but a small chair with a VR headset… odd.
He stood up and walked over to it. Why.. curiosity, perhaps? Possibly. That was the biggest mistake he could've possibly made because the second he got over to it, something shoved him into the chair, strapped him in, and slapped a headset onto him, even when he thrashed at the strange thing. God his throat hurt so badly right now..
…
…
The Final Race.
Ace Markey: Ultimate Jockey
Status: EXECUTED!
Ace slowly regained his consciousness.. God how long was he out for? He rubbed his head before blinking a few times. Gh.. where was he..?
Looking around, he could see.. ah. He was at one of his jockeying races. Oh god, not these again. Fuck- each time wasn't better than the last. He was sitting on a horse with a gray coat, it's mane a black hue. Ugh.. this wasn't ideal. But it was a simple race, and then- maybe the headset would get taken off and he'd survive, unlike Min. Though that was near impossible.
He grabbed the reins of his horse, his feet firmly placed in the stirrups. He took a small breath in, and a slow breath out. This was just another horrible race, he could survive this. It’s just a final race and then he can leave.
The bell rang throughout the air, everyone took off.
The race started off relatively well, Ace holding a solid second place, it was bad to throw himself into first to quickly- then he can’t keep it. He needs to stay in second or third and pray to god he makes it to first at the end, like he normally does. He always ends up winning the races, and making everyone happy. That’s why he’s an ultimate, righ-
“GH-!” Ace squealed, being thrown onto the dusty dirt road with no mercy shown. ‘How- did I fall?? I was on the horse- did it throw me off????’ Ace thought to himself, slowly standing up before immediately being met with a hard hoof straight to the jaw.
Staggering backwards, the jockey nursed his newly formed injury, an extremely broken jaw. If this whole thing was a simulation (probably was…) why could he feel pain? Ugh.. this sucked. His jaw probably wasn’t going to ever heal. Ow.. it really hurt. Like, really really hurt. Looking around, he expected no one to even notice he fell at all. That’s normal-
But no. Everyone stopped and stared at the redhead with soulless, blank expressions, not even blinking once. Their hollow eyes not once leaving the Ultimate Jockeys small figure, even as he desperately tried to back away from their eyes. Everyone from the small children in the stands, to the so called “competition” he had, even the horses all stopped and stared at him with nothing but despise.
“Did you know he’s the only successful one in his family.” A small voice whispered, barely audible. Ace froze. ‘ What.’
“I heard he’s the only failure.” Another voice spoke, louder than the one before. Ace flinched a little… It wasn't wrong.
“I heard he killed a girl who wanted to be a better person.” The last voice spoke, its statement booming loudly throughout the stadium.
Soon, everyone started saying almost the exact same words the first voice said. Talking about how much Ace was worth, almost nothing. About how pathetic he was. How selfish. How much of a failure he could possibly be. And…
Ace fell onto the ground, looking around everywhere frantically. Grabbing his chest lightly as his breathing became much heavier and more heaved. Oh god oh god oh god..
He wasn't a failure.
That's the one thing he wouldn't be, right?
He could be a failure… no way…. No…….
The one thing he could never be. A failure.
He didn’t want to kill her- he didn’t mean to- it was-
..
Ace fell to the ground.
“Wahoo! Looks like Ace couldn’t handle the pressure! Haha! Too bad.. He totally could have survived that if he wasn’t a coward. Welp- you can all go!” MonoTV beamed in it’s usual energetic tone.
And no one dared to bat an eye, for no one really did care about Ace Markey.