Halo: Let It Die (Book 4, Arbiter x Female human series)

Chapter 19: Time is short

Bria couldn't sleep for weeks after Kyle's little threatening visit. And she knew her time was ticking. Especially now that she has developed a sleep-deprived paranoia. Her hair even started to fall out a little bit.

Thel was even more concerned with her than before. She hasn't been the same since she got back from being with Kyle. Both physically and mentally. Of course, she was dead for a time. But Kyle traumatized her to the point where Thel feared that she couldn't ever come back.

He watched her as she sat on a bench reading her mother's journal. His heart felt troubled as he looked at the many floating objects around her. He was fearful that she would let her power get out of control.

He sat down beside her while she was reading her mother's journal for probably the hundredth time.

She jumped when she felt his presence next to her. "Oh! It's you." She looked at him with bloodshot eyes and quickly looked back at the journal.

"Bria-" he started.

"Hun, I know you like this puzzle pieced body, but I just need some more time. I feel so close to figuring this out." She said.

Thel sighed. "I'm concerned about you."

She slammed the book shut. "Why?! I'm totally fine. Especially when I get lovely little notes from my favorite person on my arm when I'm trying to sleep. It's like he knows I'm trying to sleep. But I'm fine. I send him back middle fingers and totally nice words." She said and quickly looked at Thel. "Do you think he could feel when we have sex?"

Thel looked at Bria with confusion. "No..."

"Maybe kick me in the groin so it could feel like he got kicked in the balls." She stood up.

Thel grabbed her arm. "Bria. You are not okay."

She sat back down and opened the journal again. "I'm fine. I'm so close to figuring this out, I can feel it."

"Bria-"

"Oh, who am I kidding?? Not even the Elite that knew my mom knows this stuff." She threw the book on the ground. She then pulled out her pocket knife that she used to send "nice" messages to Kyle. "I. Hate. You." She scribbled on her arm. "There. Eat that Kyle."

Thel grabbed her other arm and dragged her to her living quarters. "Bria, you need rest."

"I need to murder Kyle. That's what I need to do. But somehow without murdering myself would be very very nice." She said.

"You're not mentally okay. You haven't slept in days." He said.

"Weeks but who's counting?" She replied and sighed. "I don't feel that good. I'm still throwing up and just feeling ill." She said.

"Then get some rest." He said and sat on her bed.

"How could I rest at a time like this? Remember when everyone feared that I could tear the UNSC ship apart with my powers? Yeah, well when Kyle finds out where I am, that's what he will do. I have to be ready. I have to figure out what the frick my mother was talking about. Even if it will kill me."

Thel didn't like the sound of that. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her on top of him while lying on the bed.

She blushed immediately when her head hit his chest. "Uh, what are you doing?"

"Just relax for a second, please?" He didn't like what he was going to do next, but he didn't have any other choice. She was borderline insane if she didn't get any sleep.

He remembered the conversation he had with Cassie just the previous day.

"She didn't get any sleep last night either?" He asked.

She shook her head. "I saw her already drinking two cups of coffee. It's barely 6 am."

Thel looked down. "I am afraid for her safety."

"You can die if you don't get enough sleep. Hybrid or not." She replied. "I just can't figure out what to do. I can't figure out that journal either because all of those ingredients never existed in any database. And now she's going insane. I mean we give our kid medicine when she can't sleep but-" her eyes lit up.

"What is it?" Thel asked.

She held up a finger and went towards a desk across the room. There she grabbed a bottle of medicine and a syringe.

"You're going to drug her?" He asked.

"It's either drug her or risk her exploding the whole ship when she goes insane. Your choice." She offered Thel the medicine.

"You wish that I would do it?" He asked.

"She trusts you more than anyone." Cassie held out the medicine again.

"There has to be another way. I don't think I feel right about this." He said.

"She needs to sleep, Arbiter. You need to do this." She said.

Thel did not want to do this, but he didn't see any other way. Kyle kept waking her up in pain every single night.

Thel lifted the syringe and stuck it into Bria's shoulder.

"Wait- what are you-" Bria struggled against the poke, but her body quickly slumped as she was sedated into a deep sleep.

"I'm sorry, my love." Thel felt a depressed pain in his hearts as he picked up her body and laid her on the bed. Her skin has already gained back some color at least.

He sighed and walked out of the room and into another private room. He shut and locked the door and turned on a computer monitor with a microphone.

"Very well, Kyle." He hissed.

"Where do you wish to meet?"