darkness pressed along the corners of her vision as the arrow pierced her thigh; a wave of pain and nausea following. her consciousness held on for a moment, showing the hunter that stepped from the woods into her line of sight.
her eyes fluttered shut, and she was plunged into darkness. Rook awoke a moment later, the letters 'ONLY YOU' blazing red across the projected pictures.
her lips moved, eyes widening with realization. she was in his trap... he'd put her here- back in the maze. anger boiled in her veins along with an hard pain in her chest.
The buzzer rang above her head, and she moved quickly. her muscles screamed as she sprinted through the rooms; taking down the illusions that wouldn'tmove out of her way.
'I have to finish this-' she thought, her fist connecting with the throat of one attacker. Her leg came up to catch his chin and pushed him away as she ran on to jump into the hole ahead.
there was more fighting, anger spuring her forward and making her express it towards the men that tried to stop her descent. her fists snapped forward, followed by kicks and spitting her angerher sadnessin shouts. every punch, every kick took her closer toherJacob. closer to seeing his face and slamming him to the ground in an attempt to force him to see that he was brainwashed by his brother.
" JACOB!" she suddenly screamed, unable to contain her rage and pain. it was then that Rook realized- she had allowed herself to fall in love with the eldest Seed brother. those nights of fucking in the moonlight- letting their anger and frustrations out in the only way they could. The only way that left her alive and him eased of strain.
Rook pulled her handgun as she rushed into the last room, pulling the trigger without registering who was in front of her. Then recognition dawn in her widening eyes, and she dropped the gun in horror.
" Eli-"
" only you... can make this world seem right..." Jacob sang, walking out from behind her, his fingertips running over her shoulder as he moved past. Eli was stuck, staring up at the ceiling. his last sight of the woman he had protected... betraying him.
" Only you can make the darkness bright... Only you..." He stared at her, that smirk that always fluttered her heart plastering his face. He was slowly, deliberately walking around Eli now, watching her like the predator he was. " Only you could have gotten this close. Only you could earn his trust- like you earned mine." Jacob waved a finger at her. " It was always only ever you."
He walked forward, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. the heat from it cementing that this was all real. She had truly killed one of the few people she could call a friend. the kiss wasn't returned, it made her stomach clench in disgust, and she turned her head as a chuckle fell from his lips.
He stepped closer to press his cheek to hers, speaking into her ear. " Good work. You did it- You passed your test." one arm moved to her other shoulder, gripping it tight and holding her in almost a half hug. " You made your sacrifice. But now you're weak and alone." she felt the skin of his cheek pull up in a smirk. " and we know what happens to the weak."
Tears overflowed from her eyes, cutting through the grim on her cheeks and dripping from her chin. " You played me..."
Jacob shook his head, still holding her. " No. I cull the herd. It's what I do." He pulled away enough to give her one last kiss- a kiss she didn't return. Then pulled away, taking in the sight of her tear-filled eyes and the sheer disgusted sadness on her face before he turned away and headed down another hallway. " I'll be outside, waiting for you."
As soon as he was out of sight- Eli fell to the ground, and Rook released a scream of agony and rage. The sound was barely human, and attracted almost everyone in the bunker.
She didn't notice much else as Tammy ran past her to the corpse- she couldn't bring herself to think of it as Eli, and Wheaty hauled to her feet to press a gun into her face before Tammy pulled him off her. But it was just a blur to Rook, even as new pain filled her chest.