STRANGULATE | Markicest

63 | FAULTS

Mark held Cibil's dead body in his arms.

    It didn't feel real.

    He stared at her blank face, her eyes clouded, lashes like frost.

    She was just a kid.

    Mark had always taken satisfaction in killing; had always enjoyed the way the life bled from their eyes, and their bodies fell limp, but this—this—

    The shouts and cries of Dark and Anti fighting faded into the backdrop, and Mark carefully ran his hand over Cibil's eyelids, closing her eyes. Her skin was so cold to the touch, but her blood was still warm.

    If he hadn't stood there—

    His hand fell, weak, faltering over her feeble body.

    If he had just moved—

    Mark breathed hard, glancing up at the fight. Dark punched Anti across the face, and he staggered to the ground and landed on his hands and knees.

    Cibil died because of him.

    Mark caught a glimpse of silver in Anti's trench.

    Cibil's death was... his fault.

    Mark gazed down at her body, guilt building up in his throat.

    She was just a kid.

    The racing click of heels echoed past the opening, and Equinox slid into the room, searching, eyes wide. Her head whipped towards Mark, then locked onto Cibil in his arms. Her eyes widened.

    "Mark—" she breathed. She raced forward and grabbed at his shoulders, trying to pull him up. "Come on. We have to get you out of here—"

    Mark stumbled to his feet, Cibil's body so light and frail in his arms. Equinox dragged him towards the opening, and Mark struggled, staring at the fight. It was getting bloodier. Red and black splattered the floor.

    "But Dark—" said Mark. Equinox grabbed his arms, but he resisted her. "We can't just leave him here—"

    "Now's not the time, Mark," she hissed, pulling him out of the ballroom. They stumbled back, out of the opening and into the hallway. Mark could still see them—Dark and Anti, fighting to the death. He wanted to do something—wanted nothing more than to help Dark—to kill Antinstine himself—but he knew it was useless.

    Equinox pulled them back against the wall, gazing at Cibil.

    "Put her down," she said softly. Mark hesitated before obeying, sinking down to his knees and setting Cibil's body on the floor. She looked like a porcelain doll, her limbs falling with grace despite death.

    Equinox gazed at her body a moment, eyes glazing over with an emotion Mark couldn't place. The look left her face as fast as it came. She took a deep breath and pressed a finger to her earpiece, grimacing at the pour of static.

    "Come on..." she said under her breath, heel clicking against the floor. "Come on, Eyes..."

    Mark knelt beside Cibil's body, glancing up at Equinox, his eyes searching.

    The line gave through—just for a moment—and Equinox's breath hitched. "Eyes—" she said, voice tight. "Last floor. Ballroom. Tell everyone."

    A reply fizzed through the earpiece, and Mark swallowed, his heart racing.

    "It's not looking good," Equinox said under her breath in reply. "But you know what Dark requested, before he went inside. We have to respect it."