Like Minds - To my beloved Maraclea

Chapter four - Forced to kill

Nigel:

Nigel walked through the hallways, quiet as a fox, and he seemed to know exactly where he was going, on the contrary to Alex, for he wasn't headed to his own room. Halfway a corridor he suddenly stopped, though, giving Alex only just enough time to hide before Nigel turned around, as if he thought he heard something. For a moment he kept staring at the hall behind him but it appeared to be empty. So after a moment of deliberation he just shrugged it off and continued his journey.

He came to a door eventually, one Alex had never been before, and went inside quietly, closing the door behind him. This was perhaps Alex' only chance to catch Nigel red-handed, whatever he was doing.. Why ever he wanted that. As Alex walked through the door it soon turned out it was simply another bedroom.. But not of a student, of Father Mcdonaldson, the religion-teacher. He was fast asleep and didn't wake up from Alex coming in. Next to the bed, on the table, there was a bottle of anesthetic. The same Alex used to drug Nigel to unconsiounce.

The door behind Alex closed then and Nigel flipped on the light.

"I knew you'd be too curious to let it go.." Nigel mused, walking closer. "I'm glad you came.. See, you gave me my initiation by that prank on the train. ... now are you ready for yours?"

He lifted his hand, in which he held a knife, and offered it to you, casting a glance to the sleeping teacher.

"You know it has to be done.."

Alex:

It scared the hell out of me, the times when Nigel suddenly stopped walking and I had to hide behind the first object I could find. I even fell one time, but Nigel didn't seemed to notice that - thank goodness.

As I followed him on foot, I came into a room I'd never seen before. I swallowed, wondering what I was going to enter. It seemed to be a normal bedroom, but when I glanced at the man in the bed I frowned. Nigel stepped out of the darker side of the room which made only his face glow lightly. Then he closed the door and flipped on the light.

'What?' I asked incomprehensible. I glanced at the clean and shining knife he held in his hand while he was offering it to me.

'You want me kill?'

I felt how my weakness came back again, how my throat got pinched by the fear that was running through my veins. But it wasn't only fear. It was also a rush, a adrenalin like I doubted if I should kill him. I licked my lips and glanced from him to the professor. I slowly shook my head.

'I can't.'

Nigel:

(assume this is after the basement scene. Because of some reason I forgot, we decided to skip that one)

Nigel stared at you coldly, yet forcefully, as if only his eyes would be sufficient to make you do it.

"Yes you can, Jack.. You have to."

When Alex didn't take the knife Nigel stepped closer and pressed the hand that held the knife against Alex' chest where he could no longer ignore it.

"And you know you want to. Each and every step for us to unite matters. This is one of them. ... Do it." he said pointedly now, in the tone of an order.

The truth was, Nigel could never force Alex.. He wasn't the master of Alex. He was his pike, his weapon.. Alex was the knave that wielded him. And all Nigel wanted was for Alex to reach for that crown, take control.

Alex:

'Don't call me Jack,' I corrected him. 'Don't let me go that far.'

I looked him in the eyes - which almost begged him to keep me from taking the knife. I laid my hand down on his. I could feel my heartbeat through the knife and his hand. I pressed my lips while I tried to swallow, transporting away that terribly fear which haunted me for weeks now.