Arc 3 - Chapter 29: Brewing Tension

Everyone watched with quenched mouths.

Luke glanced at his right hand, and noticed it twitching relentlessly. His left hand wanting to do the same, his breath was fastened. Shaking his head, he pushed his eyes on the others.

“He could’ve captured us, he had the strength … but he didn’t.” Said Miles.

“He’s giving us a choice.”

“Then all the more reason to not raid that train. Look Luke, if there’s a slim chance that we could live. Be free, then by all means…”

Luke raised his right hand over his eye, and pushed a good amount of pressure on it. Seeing the imaginary waves ripple through his palm, seeing it waver and flash, he had his eyes turned down.

While Luna placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Wherever you go, I go.”

“Luna…”

“Just make your decision already. Besides, I need someone to forge new swords for me.”

He continued to stare down, even when he felt everyone’s eyes gaze at him. Staring deeply into his soul, it was like they were analyzing his thoughts and movements. Each to one’s letter, his nails that rested on his forehead twitched softly.

“You all will go with me right? Wherever the wind blows?”

“You’re a leader. You make the call. But a good leader relies on the opinions of others, rather than himself.” Said Miles.

“I know … I know …”

There were two doors in front of him.

Both colored in black, it was a choice depending on the route he’ll take. Going full throttle for the train heist, it’ll be a gamble that he’ll pay. Either with their lives, or their future selves.

But if he surrendered, they’ll be led to a remote place in Khazuan Territory. Although it will be lawless, they wouldn’t need to run any longer.

“And I know the truth is one of my primary goals in raiding that train … but … I can’t put all of your lives at risk any longer.”

Still having his hand cover his right eye, he lowered it down to his side. Raising his head, he glanced at each person, ranging from his friends to the allies he made. He didn’t want to lay eyes on that person … for he already made his choice.

“We’re surrendering.”

—Metal broke.—

Shards of it drooling on the floor, everyone turned toward Sean. Buttons mangled in the debris, some of the shrapnel stuck to his palms like glue. Broken beyond belief, he didn’t have a glare to his eyes or face.

He smiled, with a vein bulging from his right temple.

“Repeat that again Luke?”

“There’s no point in raiding that train any longer. We could live comfortable lives, have the freedom to breathe without any bounties.”

“So … you’re submitting to them?”

Luke took a step back, but he stood his ground. Even when he heard Sean’s voice shrill in cruel thick venom, he had his weight be on the tips of his toes.

Everyone stared at him like a hawk. Keeping an eye on his movements, Luna and Miles especially took a glance at his hands. Looking like they were balled, Miles felt his whole face squeeze.

“Sean. It’s my decision. If you’re that desperate for money, we could always do odd jobs down there. Just like we always—”

“Oh shut up.”

Sean’s whole face began to crinkle, as his temples and forehead grew out veins. The tension only rising, it worsened for Luke, once his heart began to beat against his chest.

“All because of some lecture, you decide to eat the advice like it was dog food? Do you really want to be treated like a dog to those pissants?”

“Damn it Sean, think about what I feel!”

“What you feel?! I feel like you’re nothing more than a coward! You’re just surrendering to them!”

Luke balled both of his hands, and squeezed them tight. His fingers digging into his palms, he kept his feet flat, even when his knees buckled against his weight. Like he was being flamed in hot oil, his right eye twitched once.

“That train heist of yours would’ve never worked…”

“Wanna know what’s not real? Living life in a jungle with hot women. Y-You’d want to start some community? Some harem orgy fest in the middle of fuck no-where? Is that your true goal?!”

Luke was silent.

Taking a big breath in, he kept it there, and allowed the dry dust to wrinkle his lungs. Pushing it back out, he didn’t open or close his eyes like how he should.

The rest of the Dark Angels felt offended, exasperated by Sean’s outspoken words. If Luke wasn’t holding everyone back, Miles would’ve been the first to confront him. Luna too.

“And you’re saying nothing. Nothing at all. You know, that’s the one thing I genuinely hate about you. Always pleasing the crowd. Always following the herd. But the moment someone criticizes you, you do whatever it takes to perfect that shy, timid appearance.”

A single line of blood riveted from his right hand. Instead of it dripping on the floor, like it should’ve, it lingered on his skin. Hope hovered near Luke’s body, her hands already pressed onto his back.

But Sean put on a frown.

“In the end, you’ll always be a pushover. In fact, I don’t think you have a type when it comes to women. For such a ‘cute’, ‘shy’, ‘gentleman’, your standards are low. Lower than some—”

“Shut up.”

He spoke like he indulged in venom, taking everyone by surprise. Hope felt her fingers twitch, as not even her touch could hone his demons. Miles himself took a step back, even Luna as well.

Instead of ceasing his frustration, Sean walked straight toward Luke. Dropping the broken metal device he had, both of his eyes encapsulated red, with no white painting his scleras. Once he was near, Sean thrusted both of his hands onto Luke’s collar.

“Then make me.”

Luke had both fists to his sides. His arms motionless, he just stared at Sean with darkened eyes.

“You can’t do shit. With those raggedy hands and arms, it was no surprise Gwen died in the counterattack.”

“I said shut up…”

His grip on Luke’s collar loosened. Feeling like a deflated balloon, the redness of his scleras began to add an extra ingredient. Looking to be salty, the water that began to swell his eyes…

“If you planned your defense better … she would’ve still been—”

—He arched his head back; by force.—

Time stopped for everyone, including the victim. Once the tension reached its nanosecond climax, he quickly fell flat on the rustic ground. Slamming his upper back, he felt static rumble his muscles.

But his eyes widened, and noticed Luke huffing with drool.

Raising his right hand up to his lip, he smeared it off with the same knuckles he punched Sean with. Continuing to huff, continuing to puff, he stared at Sean with all red eyes.

“I told you to shut up…”

________________________________________________________________________

(Solomonath 1, 59 / 11:41AM)

A year before the attack on Lagefor.

The light from the sun pushed down on the endless books. Raining on the pages, along with the covers, it looked to house wisdom for everyone to see. And yet, the glint of sunlight sparkled on those who read.

Or were trying to get a book.

On top of a ladder, the hinges of the steps creaked. All by old age, his lower eyelids soured in fatigue, exhaustion crept in. Hunched forward, he yawned dramatically.

‘Shouldn’t have stayed up all night playing video games with Jack. How the hell does he do it?’

And while he thought, there was one woman who walked through the hallway. Having books in her hands, her blonde hair glowed against the sunlight. Smelling the wood polish from the shelves, she brightened her smile that was all too natural.

‘No caffeine, only water. I swear, he must have some cheat code for staying up late.’

Pushing in a couple of books at their designated spot, she scanned through the book titles and covers. All of them being medical stuff, she gave herself a small nod, before resuming her walk.

Making her way through the same hallway Sean was in, he was all too lost in thought.

‘I wish I had his—’

He felt the wood shake.

Panic raising for a split second, his nerves jumped. Startled, completely bare to what will happen, he grappled his fingers into the wood. Trying to dig his boots on the steps … It was already too late.

—Once one of the legs broke.—

‘Shit!’

Without uttering a yelp, he acknowledged the luck that he had.

Instead of falling with the ladder, he pushed himself off, in the hopes that he could catch his fall. Having gravity help him down, he was like a cat, in the hopes that his landing was—

“H-huh?”

Sean landed onto something soft. Like a cushion, he acknowledged the thing that gave him a bit of comfort. Squealing his eyes, he slowly opened them … his left hand grabbed something squishy.

He mingled his green eyes with blue eyes. Too sleepy to even grin or smile, his dead eyes only made him look like a creep.

“Woah…”

For some odd reason, he didn’t want to break his eyes away. His left hand still rested on her chest, his right moved slowly up toward her cheek.

Like a smooth criminal.

“S-S-S-Sean!”

“Sssh.”

He raised his finger up toward her lips. Soft and gentle, he conjured a smile, while moving his left hand down to her stomach. All she could do was quiver her throat, and taint her face with sweat. Stunned to even speak, stunned to even question, her own cheeks blemished in a pinkish red.

“Don’t tell Luke this … ok?”

—A stack of books fell.—

Right behind him, was a man he didn’t want to lay his eyes on. A man that felt like his whole world was beginning to collapse.

“What … what is …”

Sean’s face paled, as he pulled away both of his hands from her body. He felt his body grow hot, once he raised his palms in a form of surrender.

Pinning his knees on the wood, he averted his eyes on the polished floor beneath them. Feeling like the walls were closing in, he conjured up the shyest of grins … while Luke conjured the coldest of frowns.

The screen faded to black; once Luke trembled his vocals to spew … venom.

“What did you do…”

________________________________________________________________________

(Reverence 3, 59 / 10:28PM)

Back to the present…

His vision blurred in all edges, the only thing he could stare at was the ceiling. His jaw unable to close shut, he had his mouth open, along with his chin bruised in purple. Once his vision returned to him, or at least parts of it, he pinned his eyes on the silhouette standing in front of him.

‘That bastard … ah!’

Bulging all of his shoulder muscles, he had his left arm held against his body. With his right, he had his fingers rub the swelled area, leaving dead skin.

His breathing heavy, he slowly strained his feet and especially his boots. Pushing himself off the ground, but gently, he wavered his arms and hands side to side. His breathing harsh, his eyes full of red, he growled within the depths of his throat.

“Now you’ve done it…”

“I told you to shut up.”

A small streak of blood ran down his lip, making Sean smear it away with his hand. Drooping it onto his thigh, he spread his feet far apart, and had his hands be dragged to gravity. Keeping his heavy stare on Luke, he moved his left hand into his pocket…

And in a flash, he took out a ball of metal.

Throwing it down to his feet, a gush of smoke burst free from its prison. Jumping back, Luke wrinkled his eyes, as the garnished stench molested his irises.

“A-Ah! Sean!”

He heard the gong of a bell.

Out from the fog of smoke, a single fist flew out. Outlining the knuckles, along with the whiteness of his skin, Luke leaped to his right.

Once Luke began to dodge one fist after another, Hope rolled out salted tears. But just as she was about to run, she felt all the motion stop in her feet. Like she was held back, she glanced behind and noticed…

“Let them Hope…” Muttered Luna.

“But they’re—”

“We’ll only intervene if things get messy. Sean is a stubborn fool, he needs this.” Said Miles.

“But how can we—”

—“It’s a duel Hope.”—

Benn’s arms were folded under his chest, as he stared at the two men fighting. Unable to look at Hope, unable to gather the tears she had in her eyes, he felt his cheeks grow dark.

“The tension between the two had to climax somehow. What else do you expect?”

“Yeah … but not like this…” Muttered Christian.

Christian had both of his hands on his waist, his grip on them loosened rather than tightened. Pacifica felt her fingers twitch, while Chris stood dazed into the abyss. The clacking of leather, the gusts of fists, it was a duel between two choices.

But they all knew it was a fight between stubbornness and frustration.