You see, as much as the comparison does not sound sensible at first, humans are quite similar to skyscrapers. Of course, not in physical manners. Yet in how they are brought down.

In demolition projects, it is unwise to merely scatter and abundance of explosive and hope for the best. Instead, the most effective way to complete the task is to place just the right number of incendiaries at the building’s weakest points.

Its pillars.

And in whatever case they should be destroyed, the resemblance would turn uncanny.

Because just like people, skyscrapers too are designed to fall on top of itself. By destroying what holds them together, a person can also be made to collapse under their own weight of beliefs.

Briefly, I shifted my attention away from Silvi. With a slight raise of my chin, I assumed the position of the throne, filled with the intent to direct my message towards those who I deemed beneath me. But unlike Silvi, I did not need her forceful tone nor the loudness of her voice. In this silence, a whisper could become a commotion.

“Hey. You."

I threw my call and left it fluttering freely on the air, indirectly exposing it towards everyone without exception. And due to that sudden act, many of the individuals within the room jolted their heads from the shock. Understandably, the clash between me and Silvi had exposed a fluctuating weather condition to the unwilling audience, leaving them unable to quickly digest to whom my action was for.

Yet relentlessly, I did not give them the pause they needed, opting to continue my bombardment.

“All of you should stay the same.”

Disguising my words with those of a praise, the crowd’s expression could only become more blank. In a baffled state, torn by whether responding was the correct thing to do, they were no different than Silvi. Stationary.

And as how they were similar to her, they will too, understand. In...

“Stay safe under your dearest alpha.”

3…

“Because without all of you…”

2…

“She’ll be nothing.”

1…

“You’re weak, Silvi.”

0.

She was and still is. However, a difference was visibly apparent, almost palpable.

Silvi stood, her posture was erect and correct. Yet her limbs seemed decrepit as her limbs dangled, only swinging subtly whenever her fingers twitched. And along with them, her lips accordingly followed, trembling in sync with her other body parts. Her once raised chin then slowly dropped its angle, allowing her eyes to directly meet mine. But as soon as they did, they bolted away to the ceiling, then to the floor, then to the people around her.

Silvi, the once-proud dictator, was barred stark by both hot and cold. Defeated, she endeavored to retreat to what she once thought to be her home. Yet now, that too has been obliterated. And there Silvi was, trapped under the weight of her sanctuary’s rubbles.

As such, what she initially thought to be her hunt, has turned into a mortal wound. And with such condition, her fangs became far too dull to kill, relieving her from the role of predator. In actuality, our roles had been entirely reversed.

Now acting as the endangered, there were only two things a threaten animal would do.

To flee...

“You bitch.”

Or to fight.

In an instant, she ground her teeth and tightened her jaw, mustering all her frustration inside the wrinkles of her raged expression. With a single step, she ran towards me, closing off our distance. Without any notice, she clenched her right fist and immediately sent it towards my left cheek.

In reaction, or lack thereof, I stood still, receiving the full impact of the hit. And its force swayed my knees along its direction, fazing me out of my posture. However, just before I greeted the floor, my legs found their strength, supporting my stance. With my face forcefully turned to the right, I began to digest what had happened.

Slowly, the pain coming from my left cheek gradually spreads. And instinctively, I caressed my cheek, examining the damage by touch. As I slowly moved my fingers along the guidance of the sensation, they finally reached the end of my lower lip, revealing a sharp sting as I tapped around it. Surprised, my hand retreated, running away towards my field of vision. And to my disbelief, tiny hints of red trickled on my thumb, in proof of the cut that Silvi had caused. With the lingering pain, I corrected my standing posture, yet still firmly focusing on my dyed thumb. Under such a condition, my mind pondered.

There was nothing left. Nothing left for her to say. That was why she had to resort to such lengths.

And for me, I also had nothing left. Nothing left to prove.

After such an act, surely, my victory was guaranteed. This bruise, and the cut on my lip, both serve as the physical evidence.

Yet...

I raised my left arm once again, resting my hand on top of my bruised skin. And even with the slightest of my touch, my featherly fingertips resembled a stab from a tiny spear.

Why...

As I breathed in and out, the air that came through and exit my lungs felt as if they were enlarging the wound on my lip.

Do I...

To me, this dribble of blood that was dying to meet the ground, appeared to be a gushing waterfall, drowning me completely.

...want to hurt you?

...

Within a room filled with an unmoving audience, I was presented with the sight of Silvi lying on her back. And in search of any sort of explanation, I found them on me.

The underlying satisfaction of my fist’s contact; the slight numbness I felt on my knuckles; My locked yet trembling limbs; proved to me that I had hit her back in retaliation.

And it was as if time itself stopped.

Because wherever I turn my head, there were only eyes looking towards me in disbelief; there were only gasps of shock; there were only cupping hands in front of their expression.

Why…? Why do you all look at me with such disgust?

All of this.

Was this all because of her?

No…