Poisoned Waters | ✓

|𝟑𝟕| "𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐭. 𝐢𝐢"

   𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐓 gradually moved through the horde and diverted into an alleyway to take a deep breath. Aside from the sickening smell, Monet's anxiety was making it harder for her to breathe, the further she moved from Noah. She just hoped that everything would go the way they planned.

   Moving along the wall in the darkness, the beam of a flashlight drew her attention. She edged closer to where it was coming from, it was on the opposite end of the alleyway. The closer she got, the further it moved away. As she finally caught up, she could see the frizzy ponytail of her brother's hair. She took a deep breath and pursued him slowly.

   He continued to move through the dark streets, further away from the eyes of the Valtan assists. But she didn't care. She needed to catch her brother, whether she was going to have help or not.

   Once she'd walked into the clearing of a secluded street, the beam of light disappeared. However, Monet continued, she tried to soak in as much of her visually impaired surroundings as she could. She couldn't see any movement in front of her, so she stepped off to the side, finding an abandoned car and starting from there—if she wanted to feel reassured, she at least needed some safe cover.

   "I know you're there, Mo, you're terrible at being quiet." he finally spoke up, his voice not too far from her. She tensed, turning in her crouched position and circling the car. "You may have been hidden from the walkers, but your katanas don't give you much cover on your back." She mentally cursed at the fact.

His voice continued to echo close beside her, she tried to pinpoint his placement. He then went silent. She pulled out her dagger from its sheath and waited for a distinct cue, like his footsteps, before she reacted.

Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind, dragged and slammed onto the pavement. He loomed over her, ready to stamp a heavy foot that she just barely rolled away from. She scurried to her feet and switched to her katanas. "You never stop, do you? Always invading and ruining things that don't involve you."

   "I always have to invade on the stupid things you do. You get people killed, Westley, you got those innocent Everwinterians killed, you killed David, you killed Dad. I don't exactly trust you." she growled, watching his movements in the darkness. He slowly approached her with preying steps and she guarded herself.

   "Dad deserved it. Goldcrest was on its last leg and with him looking after it, it was gonna give in at some point." he rolled his eyes.

"And you think you would've done any good?" she scoffed.

"Most likely. If you'd taken the time to actually listen to me, you'd understand that. We were starving, people were hungry, Mo, you never realised, did you? You were always lipsing that dickhead David."

   "Shut the fuck up." she spat.

   "It's true, though, you don't want to believe it. The Crest, Dad, wanted to sell people over for resources to a nearby group." Monet's brows furrowed. "You didn't notice? Gosh, you're such a naive idiot. He was gonna give it all up, you, me, because he wanted to save his own skin. He's dead because I made sure to kill him first—I promised I'd always protect you. If it wasn't for me, you'd be dead too."

   "Shut up! You're lying, lying about it all! You've never wanted to protect me, you wanted me dead just like him! You wanted to control me, just like he did to you, and you despised me because of how much he hated you. Everything you've done in order to 'protect me' was for you and your disgusting need for power.

"You just want it all for yourself, you wanted Goldcrest and destroyed it, and you want Everwinter and will do the same. All to prove a fucking point?! I'm not going to allow you to kill Noah." she determinedly stated, swallowing the wrath that trembled on her tongue. She couldn't wait any longer.