Chapter Thirty Nine:
"Crap!" Aris spat, looking over to Teresa.
"What the hell have you done!?" I scream at the two of them.
"Why is he here Aris, you said you wasn't followed."
"I guess not, but it make no difference. Ross is just one and we're two." He said with a sick smile holding his large knife."I say we cut him down!" Aris proclaim.
"No need." Teresa said back. "Ross It isn't what you think, just a misunderstanding." She pleads.
"Save your shuck words, I've heard everything. Whatever you did to Thomas you'll suffer ten-fold." I warn.
"I guess there no need to act dumb, we've be busted." Teresa laugh hysterically, as if she was insane.
"He's mine, I'll dispatch of him quickly, you tend to our task."
"You think so Aris? Well try me then." I scoff at the boy, as I rip out my machete from the strap and threw up my hands in a fighting stance."
Aris ran at me like I anticipated. I swiftly side step out of the way, kicking him in the side of his ribs. I then proceed to dash at him, as our knives clash. For he was back at it with the counter. Aris fist brush against my upper lip as my palm knocked him back a few by his chest.
"Your pretty good, I'll give you that!" Aris stated readying himself to attack.
Aris charge straight at me after gripping his large knife once more. He took a large swing and dodge promptly, managing to get to the side of me. He'd gotten enough speed, only to lean forward and kicks me in the kneecap sending me to the ground. Although I reacted a bit faster on the fall, I got to slash him across his torso. It was nothing fatal or deep but I did shred some skin.
"Aris no!" Teresa cried as she ran towards us arching down the blunt of her spear over my head.
Aris threw his hands up to stop her. "I said he's mine!" He commanded. He got back up and lunges once more nearly cutting my nose open. He's a powerful opponent.
"You're quite dangerous, but we both know why I'm here so I can't waste anymore time." I smirk gripping my knife between my teeth and use both arms to either counter or to block while I slice with my mouth. Dangerous tactical offense, but I needed to hold him still.
The both of us ran at another going full speed, he swish his knife, but I manage to use my left hand to throw off his aim, as my other hand went for a solid hook which nearly connected. Unfortunately his knife slices my shoulder that I too was thrown off aim. Even slicing and evading with my hands and knife, I was only able to fight Aris to a standstill. It was as if it that was his plan all along. Going for a fatal stab would also open up his defense.
"Teresa he's caught on, I can't keep fighting him to a draw, we need to end this quickly." He called out to her. Teresa burst towards the two of us slashing her spear directly at me. I couldn't defend both attacks, if I go for Aris thoart, she'll impale me. If I go for her heart heart, he'll slice my throat. I had no viable options as her weapon got in hairs length of my body.
As Teresa is about to land a hit, I slam a solid left hook, which knocks Aris to the ground chocking for oxygen. But it was a costly mistake on my part, but from the side, help had finally made their move. From my view, Jacob held to a lead pipe countering Teresa attack, as Nyx instantly slammed his metal spear into her temple. It sent her shuddering to ground in a instance as they caught off her guard.
"Not so tough when it's three on two!" I mock at Aris who's already back up. He go to kick at me but my foot sweeps under his tripping as he hit the cave floor his nose getting the brunt of it. Now he was bleeding profusely.
Teresa on the other hand caught Nyx with a solid strike to the groin with the blunt of her spear. Such a strike sent Nyx to the floor in pain. I run to his aid, pulling him out the way of her next attack.
"You're going to ruin everything, just let him die!" Teresa said aloud. But she had to contend with Jacob, who spurred and kick her in the shin. He manages to hurt her before she caught him with a sharp slice in the leg. The two of them where evading and attacking another back and forth.
Aris screams out in fury, his knife in hand wavering with hate. I quickly repealed his next attack, using his momentum against him. Our knives clash and clatter in the middle. All of at the built up tension between them, neither one of us letting go of the pressure. It had built up more and more as we pushed back and forth in the middle of our knives. My arms began to ache and acting on their accord, it lead to a foolish mistake.
Letting the tension go, Aris kicks me in the head with a short leap before tackling to the ground as we wrestle. He finally managed to get on top of my body, his whole weight against my chest. His face had a cheeky smile, a sense of victory to it, before bluntly turning sadistic. Aris then raise both of legs and knees me twice in the groin while he pinned my hands down.
"I'll gut you. You and your friends," he hiss in my face before landing a hit between my eyes. His nose bleed dripping on me.
"Rachel probably died like the dog she was." This broken his attention for what might be the second time before he snap out of it. Not giving the me chance to strike back. He grips the knife between his teeth, copying me as his hands still restraining mine. Aris hovers the knife over my heart, like some pendulum. I simply await the death blow but it doesn't come. Instead Nyx runs and punts Aris in the chest knocking him off me.
With a team effort Nyx and Jacob. They subdue Teresa as Nyx sits on her back. Jacob does the same with Aris. I laugh excitingly as the squirm and tried to fight back. It was hilarious, how pitiful they instantly became. When I had my laugh I finally walked over to the pair with a straight face on and ask the most important question I could.
"Where is Thomas?" I ask short of breath."Be quick about it Teresa or I'll have Jacob cut Aris tongue out. And I'll keep having parts taken off to he passes out or bleeds to death.
"You wouldn't dare!" Shouted Teresa.
"Jacob show her we're not to be trifle with."
Just like that, Jacob yanks out the knife of Aris mouth. The proceeds to place the handle between his teeth so he couldn't bite. Jacob slowly pulls the boy's tongue out and flips the blade so the edge is ready to slice his tongue like a piece of ham. "At the ready Jacob!"
"Aye-aye."
"Rea-"
"Wait, wait!" She cries out, he's in the little area but it's probably to late for him, you can't prevent it as much as we can't take it back."
"For your sakes, you'd better be wrong." I smiled with a fiendish look. "Nyx, Jacob I'd say it's time for them to sleep." I directed before walking off.
Instantly Nyx and Jacob knocked the two of them out with little effort. That's when I made my move. I walk forward until I'm engulfed by the green light.
It was a small room, only several feet deep. Its walls appeared to be made of some silvery metal, their surfaces broken up by small protrusions maybe an inch high, each ending in a black hole. The little knobs or spouts were set about five inches apart, making a square grid across the walls. There a door locked shut there wasn't a way to view inside.
I kick and punched at the stupid door. All with no progress. Only the sounds of rumbling here and there, for all I knew this could be a place they dispose of bodies. He could be brunt to crisp like some mad crematorium. I dare not think of this but there it is. I'm beside myself screaming in frustration.
I was too late, too slow. I failed him when I was only there to save him. Everything up to this point was wasted. Come tomorrow we reach this Cure or die trying battling Group B. How could she do that to him? It should of been me…
Nyx steps into the room followed by Jacob.
"They had rope in their backpacks so we binded there hands."
"I failed."
"You gave it your all we all did, if you need to talk will be out back watching them when they wake." Jacob said as the pair patted me on the back.
So here I was sitting a couple of feet away from the machine, slump over into a depressive fit. More I sat here the more I find it hard to breathe. I sat for hours quiet until I gave up and return to the others. Depriving myself of any then they we up and unhappy even remorseful. What was this?
"Quit the shit Teresa, your tears aren't fooling anyone." Jacob said.
"As if you knew!" She spit back.
I finally had enough and pick up my machete and grabbed Aris, by his hair, placing hin a head lock. My blade slowly pressing deeply into the skin yet hasn't went completely through.
"I'm going to kill him and then you'll know how I feel, this your punishment." I cackled.
"Teresa…" Aris called through strained breath.
"So before he dies I want to know why, why betray us? Why lead Thomas to his death?"
Teresa mouth moved so fast and quick, that I release my grip. All I heard was, WICKED, Variables."
Nyx and Jacob were baffled. "Cut them lose, I know where the fear in her eyes come from."
"But?" The two both say at the same time.
"Of course keep their weapons away from them."
"Ross, I…" Teresa starts up.
"Don't, I have a friend to mourn." I say brushing past her.
Once again I sat and waited, crying, praying for a miracle. Just let him live. With the hostile stuff over I find myself eyes shutting. As I sat in hope.