What Lurks Within // Minho (O.H.)

10 ; action and reaction

One Year and ten months cont.

Leo's breaths were ragged and he stepped back. He placed his hands on his hips and looked to the sky. Now that he had a moment to relax, he felt the pain attack him with fervent intensity.

He glanced down when he heard Kane slide down the wall and rest on the grass. He bit his tongue and switched his gaze to the left when red entered his peripheral. He glared at the beetle blade until it crawled up the wall and out of sight.

They all crowded around Kane in a half-circle. All eyes were switching between Leo and the body. Leo took a deep breath and reached for the blade. He pulled it from Kane's body and wiped the blade on his jeans before folding it and placing it back in his pocket without a word.

"What the hell happened?" Nick implored, his voice brimming with panic. He placed his hand on Leo's shoulder and then gave a light shove when Leo didn't immediately respond.

Leo just shook his head and clamped his mouth shut. He saw Nick purse his lips into a thin line, his eyes wide with fear or fury. Leo didn't care much to decide which.

Nick sighed and covered his eyes. He stepped back and paced for a bit before announcing, "I'm getting the Baggers. No one speaks a word to anyone until we figure this out at the Gatherin'."

He pulled Percy's elbow. The boy was still green in the face and he followed without protest.

Leo walked down a few paces and stood in front of the doors. His jaw was clenched almost painfully and he tried to wish away the picture of Kane's final moments seared behind his eyelids. He felt the blood on his hands and wiped his palms on his thighs. It did little to clean them off. His back faced the remaining boys.

"I'll go round up the boys," Alby commented and headed further into the Glade, not waiting for any response.

Minho began to walk over to Leo but stopped when Newt caught his arm in his hold. Minho barely gave Newt a glance, too consumed with looking at Leo. He needed to touch him. To just be near him.

"Are you seriously not freaking out 'bout this?"

Minho huffed and rolled his eyes. "We've seen worse, Newt. Done worse," he trailed off. "I know you weren't here since the beginning, but it'd be good to remember that things weren't always shucking sunshine and rainbows around here."

With that, Minho tugged his arm free and brushed past Newt.

Minho slowed his steps and stood beside Leo, but the boy didn't glance in his direction. His eyes were still screwed shut and he shook his head almost imperceptibly. Minho wondered what exactly happened before they arrived, but he didn't want to ask. He wouldn't dare to right now.

"Fuck!" Leo exploded and he ran his hands through his hair, leaving streaks of red.

"Hey," Minho urged gently. "You all right?" He hovered his hand over Leo's shoulder, afraid his touch may hurt the boy.

Leo blinked away the haze of tears and spared Minho a glance. He nodded once and then looked back at the Glade doors. "I failed. I'm sorry."

Leo couldn't distinguish the pain of his wounds from the pain of guilt slowly yet steadily filling his body. His chest felt tight and he couldn't take a full breath. He wanted to scream, cry, and never utter a word again all at once.

He didn't just kill one person. He killed everyone. All of the boys. Himself. Minho.

"What are you talking about, Leo?"

"I didn't find a way out. Instead, I killed our only lead," he muttered and then erupted in anger at himself, "I'm such a fucking idiot! Goddammit! I killed all of us!"