Hide and Seek: The Mad Girl Sees All novel Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Capital Hall, 9:40 AM.

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Lyra stood in front of a full-length mirror backstage, wearing a military uniform with two gold stars on her shoulder boards.

She pulled at her collar and turned to look at Lily.

Lily stood beside her, hands at her sides, her uniform collar buttoned all the way up, her neck stiff as a board.

“Lil Lily, relax a bit,” Lyra said.

“I am relaxed.” Lily’s voice was tight, matching her stiff neck.

“Your lips are pale,” Lyra said.

Lily licked her lips and swallowed hard.

“Goddess Lyra, I’m nervous,” she said.

“I can tell. Just think of it like getting an award at the end of the semester. Have you ever gotten one?” Lyra asked.

“Yeah! Every year! I got “Top Student’ and ‘Academic Star, all of them!” Lily replied.

“Did you ever go up on stage to accept them?” Lyra asked.

“Of course.” Lily said.

“Remember how you felt when you got those awards? This is just like that,” Lyra said, giving her a light tap on the back of her head.

Lily rubbed the spot Lyra had tapped and took a deep breath. She remembered walking straight onto the stage for awards, chin up, chest out, feeling just a little smug.

Zoe and Lily Sterling’s personal assistant, Maeve Ziegler, walked over from the end of the hallway, a folder in her hands.

“At 9:50, you’ll wait backstage. Take the left aisle to the stage. The host will call your names. Stand at your mark, facing forward. Chief Advisor Sterling will be there waiting for you,” Maeve explained.

“You got all that?” she asked.

Lyra nodded.

Lily nodded, then shook her head.

Maeve looked at her and patiently went over the steps again. Lily mouthed the words along with her, her fingers tapping out the rhythm on her pant seam.

At 9:50, the main hall of Capital Hall was filled with a tense hush.

The doors swung open from the outside, and Lyra walked in first, with Lily following half a step behind.

The hall wasn’t very big. Military personnel and Command Center staff stood on both sides. Up front, a stage was draped in red cloth. Lana stood on the left side of the stage, flanked by two generals.

The military band was ready on the right, instruments in place, the conductor’s hand hovering in the air.

Everyone stood up.

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Chapter 94

Lyra’s footsteps clicked crisply across the silent hall, each strike of her leather shoes echoing in the hush

Lily’s heartbeat was so loud it drowned out even Lyra’s steps. She could feel it hammering in her chest, echoing in her ears

The two of them walked up to the front of the stage and stood firmly in place.

“The ceremony begins, the host announced, his voice crisp and clear over the speakers.

The host’s voice came through the speakers, sharp and clean.

“Everyone, stand at attention. Let’s sing the national anthem of Draconia, the host announced.

The military band started playing the anthem.

The moment the intro began, Lyra’s back went rigid.

She’d heard this song before, back in the psych ward. Every morning at 7 AM, the director’s office would play it, muffled and distant. She’d be leaning against her window, quietly humming along.

7 AM, every morning, for fifteen years.

“Arise! You who refuse to be slaves!”

The whole hall joined in, voices rising together.

Lily’s eyes burned, and she tipped her head back, fighting to keep the tears from falling. Lily thought, ‘I can’t cry here. Hold it together.’

Lyra’s lips moved, her voice lost in the chorus as she sang, “Arise! You who refuse to be slaves…”

When the anthem ended, the last note faded away, and the hall fell silent for two seconds.

The host spoke up, “Time to read the order.”

Lana stepped forward, unfurling the official order in her hands. She glanced at Lyra and Lily standing below the stage, then began to speak.

“By order of the Draconia Strategic Game Command Center,” she announced.

Lana continued, “Lyra Vance, competitor of Draconia, is hereby awarded the’ rank of Major General.

“Lily Sterling, competitor of Draconia, is hereby awarded the rank of Major.

“This order takes effect immediately.”

She closed the order and looked up, and all eyes in the hall turned to her.

Lana didn’t look at her notes. She looked straight at Lyra and Lily standing below the stage.

Lana said, “After the Nuclear War, Draconia lost all its territory. Then the game descended. Thanks to the bravery of countless soldiers fighting on the front lines, we managed to reclaim life on the surface.

“But with every opportunity came new dangers. Under the game’s relentless siege, we lost twelve soldiers and twenty-two safe zones.

“Natural disasters still plague us, and the game’s assault hasn’t let up.

“When the whole nation was shrouded in darkness, they stepped up.

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“Lyra Vance, just twenty-two, entered the game’s mission and, all on her own, figured out the game’s rules, protecting Draconia’s safe zones.

“She pulled food out of the game, and put meals back on the tables of 270 million people.

!

“She once said, ‘I want everyone to have a meal.

“And she did it.”

Lyra stood below the stage, hands at her sides, standing perfectly still.

Lana shifted her gaze to Lily.

Lana continued, “Lily Sterling, just ten years old, the youngest competitor in the world.

“When she first entered the mission, facing the unknown Wraiths, she never backed down.

“With her quick wit, she saw through the Tricolor Mimic’s disguise, and with her small frame, she carried tons of food out for the nation.

“She may be the youngest, but she’s never once said the word ‘retreat.”

Lily’s nose stung, and she bit down on her lip so hard it turned white. Lily thought, ‘Why do I want to cry so badly? Hold it together!’

Lana looked away, her voice steady and unwavering, every word landing with quiet authority.

Lana said, “The backbone of the nation knows no age.

“The hope of the people doesn’t care about where you come from.

Everything these two have done deserves to be remembered, deserves our respect, and deserves all of us standing here to honor them.”

The hall erupted in applause, hands clapping so hard they turned red.

On the Draconia live channel, the chat was blowing up.

[momo: I’m crying! I’m crying! I’m crying! I’m bawling my eyes out! I’m a mess!]

[BornToCuss: Damn it! I’m a grown-ass 28-year-old man, and I’m crying like an idiot! Who’s got tissues?]

[LyraCOAT: For real! Goddess Lyra gave me hope, and gave the whole country hope. I’ve seen a bunch of people online who moved abroad wanting to come back. Like hell they’re coming back! I hope the country turns them away!]

[NeverAteVeggies: The backbone of the nation knows no age! That line’s gonna stick with me for life!]

[AnotherDayAlive: Lil Lily’s only ten! Ten! When I was ten, all I did was play video games. She’s out there putting everything on the line!]

[LuckyKoi: My baby! I’m so proud of you!]

[LilySpritesDad: I’m not crying, it’s just there’s a ton of dust in my eyes.]

[NutrientGooSucks: You two are such a couple: one’s crying, the other’s pretending not to. That’s so real! I’m crying too!]

[LyraSuperfan: A 22-year-old Major General and a 10-year-old Major? Even if you put it in a history book, nobody would believe it!]

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[GoDraconia: When Chief Advisor Sterling said. ‘She said she’d make sure everyone got to eat, and she actually did it, my tears just wouldn’t stop.]

Back in the Capital Hall, the applause finally faded.

Lana picked up the two official orders from the stage and walked over to Lyra.

“Lyra Vance,” she called out.

“Present!” Lyra replied.

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