Rain returned her home after tidying up her stall. She and her father chose to head straight back instead of joining the others in parading Marcus. She was still too wounded by that corrupt official.
Tok! Tok! Tok!
Suddenly, the Edmunds' front door knocked, and Edmund quickly opened it. Standing there was Benny, their neighbor across the street. In his hand, he held a piece of meat wrapped in a clear plastic bag.
"What is this, Mr. Benny?"
"It's meat. This is for you and your family."
"Where did you get this meat?" Edmund asked.
But Benny stayed silent.
"Where did you get it? Doesn't this class have no livestock?" Edmund pressed. Besides, meat was the most prized and expensive dish in their class, only the rich could afford it.
Just then, in front of Edmund's house, a group of children were kicking something that looked disturbingly like a human head. They were playing it with glee.
The head-like object suddenly rolled toward Edmund's house. His eyes widened in horror. He felt sick when he saw Marcus's head before him, Marcus' chubby face already damaged and his features covered in road dust. Benny gleefully tossed the head back toward the children.
"T-that .…"
"Shh! Yes, and this meat is his meat. The people decided to butcher his body and share it with the rest."
"W-what?" Edmund said in disbelief. "You're insane! This is a crime."
"Yes, I know. But a man as wicked as him deserves to be treated that way," Benny said as he offered Marcus's meat again.
"No, you keep it," Edmund refused.
Benny grinned. "Are you sure? It's nice and fatty, it must taste incredible."
Edmund shook his head.
Benny carried the meat inside with glee. "At last, we'll eat meat!" he shouted to his wife.
Knowing the meat belonged to Marcus, Edmund was horrified and quickly shut the door. When he turned around, he nearly jumped out of his skin, Rain was standing there wearing her homemade rice-mask.
"Good heavens!" Edmund cried, his heart nearly leaping from his chest.
"Dad, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing."
Anna emerged from the kitchen, wearing the same rice-mask as Rain. Edmund was startled a second time.
"Good grief, you nearly scared me to death," he said, clutching his chest.
"Sorry," Anna said.
"Why are you two wearing rice masks? We're struggling right now," Edmund said.
"I got money from those thugs as compensation for our stall they destroyed, Dad," Rain explained. "Before I came home, one of them gave me the compensation money."
Edmund didn't reply. He sat down in the wooden chair, visibly restless.
"What's wrong, Dad?" Rain asked.
"I keep thinking about what Marcus said."
Rain looked him in the eye. "Which part?"
"Last night I met him and asked about the Game."
"And?" Anna asked.
"I gave him Felix's gift, 200 gold coins. In return, he gave me information about Felix."
"What did he say, Dad?" Rain asked eagerly.
"He said there's a chance Felix is still alive."
"That's impossible, Dad. He's a liar. He told us himself, if a contestant's name falls to the bottom, it means they're dead," Rain replied.
"Yes, I know. But at least there's still a glimmer of hope for your brother," Edmund said.
Anna placed her hand on his chest to calm him. "I'm here."
"Even if Marcus is a swindler, he'll still speak the truth when bribed, especially with a sum that large, for a corrupt official like him," Edmund said.
***
Rain chose to be alone in the guava tree in front of her house. She gazed at the star-filled sky. From time to time, she glanced at the men near the road entrance who were feasting joyfully on the meat before them.
Curious about what they were eating, Rain approached them.
"Wow, you all seem so happy after eating meat," Rain said.
"Of course, Rain. And it's all thanks to you. Because of your courage, we can eat meat to our hearts' content," Benny said, handing her a glass of bright yellow energy drink.
Rain accepted it. "What do you mean, sir?" she asked, still not understanding the connection between her bravery and their feast.
Bobby leaned close and whispered, "That meat is Marcus's. We agreed to butcher and cook his body to erase the evidence of his death."
Rain's eyes widened at his words. She splashed the drink in her hand at the men, startling them.
"Y-you killed Marcus?"
"Yes. Why?" asked Sandy, her next-door neighbor.
"You mustn't kill him!" Rain shouted.
"And why not?" Bobby asked.
"He was a witness we could use against the Elites. If he dies, the Elite Court won't punish them. You know the Elite Court is the highest body that can bring criminals to justice," Rain said.
"Where did you learn about the Elite Court?" Willi asked.
"Are you sure the Elite Court isn't controlled by corrupt men? Corruption is everywhere," Sandy added.
Jean, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Can you guarantee Marcus would have told the truth in court? Especially when his opponents were the Elites? You know he was easily bribed."
"Besides, it's too late. The fat man is dead," Sandy said.
Rain looked at that four men but she said nothing. She turned and went back into her house.
***
Inside her house, she found her parents drinking tea at the table.
"Rain, you're back?" Anna asked.
"Don't pretend, Mom, Dad. You know Mr. Marcus is dead and people are cooking his meat, don't you?"
Anna glanced at Edmund, who was sipping his tea. "Is what Rain says true?" she asked.
Rain grabbed her mother's hand. "You really didn't know, Mom?"
Anna shook her head. "I only just learned it from you."
Edmund set his teacup on the table. He then invited his wife and daughter to sit with him. After they sat quietly, Edmund clasped their hands. "It's true. I found out earlier when Mr. Benny tried to give me Mr. Marcus's meat, but I refused."
"My God!" Anna gasped, covering her mouth. "This is a crime. Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"I didn't want to shock you," Edmund said.
"We must leave now, or the Elite Troops will arrest us," Anna said.
"That's unnecessary. They don't have solid evidence," Edmund tried to calm her.
Rain added, "Dad's right, Mom. Mr. Marcus's body has already been eaten by our people. Even if the Elite Troops try to arrest us, they'll lose because we outnumber them."
"Let's hope your prediction is right," Anna said.
***