To Where the Sun Rises (Part 2 of 'A Tale of People and Apples' Trilogy)

Chapter 12: Letting Go

Although Markus the Six was just as surprised as Luka, with his eyes fixated on his step-brother, he launched a shining dagger from his waist towards Luka's heart with no hesitation in the shining darkness of the metallic hall.

As Luka flinched, Mikkael shifted in an effort to protect Luka, the blade ricocheting off of Mikkael slightly and whistling by Luka's head behind them, Mikkael unscathed.

Without the dagger being held by Markus as it spun in the air, the dagger harmlessly deflected off of Mikkael, a Six's power only able to emanate to blades that were held directly.

Markus' eyes widened even more, as he grabbed Mikkael with a firm hand by his collar and brought him close to his sharp face, just before the entrance of the Labyrinth.

Luka closed his eyes. He wished the dagger had hit him.

He wished Mikkael hadn't just saved his life. Because now he knew he'd have to kill him. He would have to sacrifice Mikkael.

Markus now knew Mikkael was a Six. Their new element of surprise was gone, forever. Mikkael, soon to be gone, forever.

Luka launched his body towards the back of Mikkael, and kicked him, along with Markus, into the darkness of the Labyrinth before Markus or his Outlanders could enter the Research Facility. The stunned boy compressed into Markus, tumbling down the stairs of the darkness and the now open doorway.

"Signey, Laplan," Luka yelled. His Hosts required no further instructions, as Signey pried the door shut and Laplan awaited to lock it shut with his electromagnetic abilities.

"Mikkael," Eeva shouted, launching herself forwards and trying to out muscle the powerful Signey but to no avail. Laplan locked the door in place.

Eeva continued to scream for her brother who was now trapped on the other side with the Outlanders and Markus. Wide eyed, she stood and began striking Luka's chest with her fists.

"What have you done?" she said to him, exasperated and confused and deeply wounded, almost unable to process what had happened so quickly. Luka's stomach sank as he saw the hurt in her eyes that he had caused, as he let her strike him with impunity.

"What have you done!?"

Tristan stepped forth and grabbed Eeva's flailing arms, trying to soothe her hysterical punches. "Eeva listen to me," he began, "It was all Luka could do. Your brother... He was dead the minute the dagger glanced off him."

It was something Luka had known almost instantly, but he realized it was only him and Tristan who fully understood what had transpired in real time. Luka fell to his knees, too defeated to even explain his actions. His training, his Gift, his skill, were simply a curse. He was disgusted with what he just did. He felt sick that he ever offered the idea to kill Markus with Mikkael, of which the reverse just happened due to his instinctive yet callous boot.

What am I becoming? Luka thought to himself. What have I always been?

"Speak plainly, Raven. Luka should be hanged for this. He just killed our leader," Julien said disgusted and mortified that Tristan was trying to excuse his actions. Eeva's wide eyes and shaking body, which agreed with Julien non-verbally, was what hurt Luka more than anything. The realization her brother was now dead, and not simply lost, began to creep into her mind like a shadow.

Mikkael is dead.

"That dagger bouncing off Mikkael was all Markus needed to realize Mikkael is a Six. In other words, the only threat to Markus. There is... was... no scenario in which Markus wouldn't kill Mikkael. It was either Mikkael died in front of us right here, or Mikkael died behind a locked door. Luka chose the latter for us, and has bought us some time."