Turning Back The Clock

Turning Back The Clock: Chapter 23

Meliodas felt his hearts start to beat wildly as he saw his siblings. And it wasn't just from the fear he felt at getting caught. No, it was mixed with the new knowledge he had about them. He was angry, and scared.

Angry because they lied, and scared because he didn't feel like he was looking at his brothers right now.

It felt like he was looking at his enemy.

"Chair. Now."

Zeldris was the one that spoke the demand, doing so in a tone the blond rarely heard. He only talked like this when he was very, very angry.

Doing what was asked of him with slumped shoulders and anxiety induced adrenaline, the blond took a seat at the table. It wasn't until sitting down that the ravenette spoke again, while Meliodas braced himself for the lecture to come.

"Sneaking out Meliodas!? What the hell were you thinking!? Where were you!?"

The blond just shrugged, shutting down.

"Out."

"Out where?"

"Just out."

"Meliodas, I'm trying very hard to be patient with you. But you need to give me an answer, a real answer. Where were you?"

Zeldris's voice was deadly calm, but even with the obvious anger in it, the boy just stayed silent. He didn't look at his brothers, and he didn't say a word. Whatever punishment or lecture he got because of that, he already accepted.

"What's going on with you? This isn't like you Mel. Sneaking out, lying, where the hell is this all coming from? Do you even realize how dangerous what you did was? What if our enemies kidnapped you? Or you got hurt when you were doing who knows what? We wouldn't know where you were. Do you have any idea how terrified we were when we woke up and you were just- gone? Goddesses Mel, answer me!"

The demand wasn't met. All the blond did was clench his fists. He was getting angrier. They were talking to him about lying? They didn't have any right to lecture him! But, he'd accept it. Just stay silent was what he told himself.

The anger was still there even as Zeldris's seemed to fade. The man sighed before remaining silent for a moment. Only speaking a few minutes later when he seemed to have collected himself better.

"Meliodas, look at me."

The voice was softer, and the sudden change made the child oblige.

"I'm... I'm worried about you. I've noticed how different you've been acting lately. You still won't tell me why you've been crying, and you've started pushing me away when you do. Please just- whatever is upsetting you, whatever is making you do stuff like this? Please, just be honest with me and tell me what it is. I'm getting so concerned for you Meli."

Zeldris dropped his defensive stance, walking to where his younger sibling sat and crouching down to meet his level.

"I'm your big brother, right? We're supposed to tell each other things."

The blond couldn't help the scoff that left him at that. His blood was boiling in fury now as he tried to stay quiet.

Although that wouldn't go as planned as the feelings kept getting stronger the more his brother prodded.

"Meli? What was that for? Why are you so upset? I'm just trying to help."

The boy refused to meet his sibling's gaze anymore, instead glaring down at his hands with a tight jaw.

"Listen, I'm starting to run out of patience here. I'm trying to be calm and just talk with you, but you're acting so... so... angry. This isn't like you at all. Where did this attitude come from? Why aren't you being honest with me?"

That last part was what made him snap.

"Why aren't I being honest with you? That's a joke. You're the one who's been lying and faking ever since I woke up! You're right Zeldris, brothers are supposed to be truthful with each other, so WHY HAVEN'T YOU!"

His eyes were hardened with fury, his poster tight with defiance. And he directed it all right at Zeldris as he looked up at matching emerald eyes wide with shock and concern.

After a second though, what he said set in. What he just gave away.

Anger faded in a flash as it was quickly replaced by fear. Fear that his friends would suffer for his mistake.

"Meliodas... what are you talking about? Why- Why do you think we're lying to you?"

Zeldris was shaking as he forced his younger brother to look at him. He looked desperate and terrified for an answer.

Although it was one already unraveled the second the little demon spoke.

"Have you been talking to the sins, Meliodas?"

It was Estarossa who spoke this time, the first time this morning. His voice was calm, and that was far more alarming than any yelling any brothers could do.

The silence only confirmed it as it spread over all three for several minutes.

Meliodas was trying so hard to come up with an excuse, something to clear the sins' name. But nothing came to mind.

Nothing.

The boy felt like his world was shutting down. Why hadn't he just stayed silent!? Why hadn't he been quieter this morning!? Why was he so foolish to get his friends in trouble!

After what felt like an eternity, Estarossa spoke again, something that made the blond look up with eyes wide with fear.

"I'm going to call the others on how to deal with this.. situation.  Meliodas, go to your room."

"No! Don't hurt them Estarossa! Please! Get mad at me if you want but please don't touch them!"

He went to go plead with the man, to hold him back from telling the Commandments. But instead Zeldris grabbed his arm before he could.

"Let me GO! I won't let you hurt them! They're my friends! I'm never going to forgive you for this!"

"Meliodas! Stop! We have to do this, it's dangerous for you to be around them!"

"No! You're lying again! Just- let me go!"

Zeldris spun the boy thrashing against him, grabbing him by the shoulder and making him look at the other.

"I can't lose you again! They're going to take you away if we don't do this, please try to understand!"

"NO! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU FOR DOING THIS! I'M NEVER GOING TO FORGIVE YOU!"

Zeldris's grip loosened as a look of hurt crossed his face. But Meliodas didn't care, he was on the verge of tears now after what they were planning to do, and he just wanted to run away from it all. He wanted to go warn his friends.

So pushing the older demon aside, he ran off to try to do just that. Only for those same guards who always followed him to grab him by the wrist and toss him in his room.

Leaving the boy alone to cry about what he had done, knowing his friends wouldn't stand a chance against what was coming.

Not great and short, but we're nearing the end guys! I can't believe I'm almost done with this book and that I know EXACTLY what to do with it! :O

Anyway hope it was a decent read at least.

1207 words.