Halo: Heroes Awakening

30. Mr Heartbreak

Malia

Captain Jared and some officer? Let me act surprised.

"So if this was all happening under Gus' nose, that means Vaea doesn't trust him, since he's getting other people to do his dirty work," Malia realized. "We need to tell him. Do you remember their names? What exactly do you remember?"

Finn watched over Malia's shoulders. People were running out of the community hall. He took her arm and dragged them away. "Let's go somewhere else to talk. No offense to everyone else but you're dressed like you could buy this entire neighbourhood. That's not the kind of attention we need right now."

They ducked into a bend between the limestone houses, with someone knocking straight into Malia. The force sent her hat flopping off her head, and she looked up into a familiar face that sent her blood boiling.

Sud's mouth plopped open like a fish as his eyes went wide. "M-Malia? W-What are you doing here?"

Malia clenched her fist and forced a smile. "Hey, Sud. I bet you thought you'd never see me ever again, huh?"

Sud stared at her like a cornered dog, his eyes darting around nervously. He twisted and tried to break into a run away from them, but Malia launched her arm out and caught onto his collar. He was yanked back, the force of her pull sending him falling straight onto the stone path. Malia pushed him up against the wall with her boot in the centre of his chest.

"Oh no you don't," she said with a hiss. "Running away again? I'll make sure you don't get any reward money this time."

Finn stared in confusion at the scene, checking behind them if anyone was nearby. "Malia, what are you doing? What's the deal with this bloke?" He asked.

Sud shivered under Malia's hold, infuriating her even more. He was a little weasel. "This asshole was the one who betrayed us. He's the reason Sina's treehouse was burned down and the reason she lost EVERYTHING!"

"I-I'm sorry!" Sud whined out. "I-I was scared. I didn't want to go to jail!"

"So you betrayed Sina? I was not your problem at all. You could have perfectly gotten away with being an accomplice! Sina gave you your share and you still abused her kindness by outting her to the police. You're scum!"

"I really am sorry!" Sud cried out. "Please just let me go! I learnt my lesson! I won't tell anyone I saw you I promise!"

Malia gave a twisted smile. "Damn right you won't. You won't get the chance to."

Sud's face went pale at her threatening words. He even got chicken skin. Finn took her by the shoulder warningly. "You aren't going to kill him, are you?" He asked. "Not to be a killjoy but this isn't the time nor place to murder someone."

"I'm not a murderer." Malia scowled, then smiled at Sud again. "I won't kill him, not yet anyway."

"That sounds like a very murderous thing to say," Finn said.

"No please!" Sud started fake sobbing. He was making noise but absolutely no tears were present on his weasel face. "Don't hurt me. Your mother will be disappointed and everyone will shun her! You don't want that to happen, right? Please, Malia, I know you're better than this!"

"How dare you bring up my mother, you bumhead!" Malia shrieked in rage. She raised her fist and was about to pummel the top of his head but stopped herself. "You know what? Fine. I won't hurt you."

Sud's "sobbing" halted and his entire face brightened. "Really? Thank you thank you so much! I knew you weren't that b—"

Malia didn't give him a chance to finish, swinging her foot across his face. Sud was knocked straight out, his body falling limp onto the path. Finn blinked slowly.