The Risen HODWII

Chapter 45 : Why?

** Xenon's POV **

"B... Bryan!?" It seemed like a bucket of water had been thrown at me. "Why?" was the only word that slipped out of my mouth.

I had so many questions in my mind, but I couldn't find my words. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't. All the memories I had with him kept replaying in my mind, making me wonder what I did wrong.

"You traitor! How could you betray us!?" Lucas shouted in madness as he tried to get out of his seat. I could see the fury in him and the lingering sadness inside.

"Bryan... we trusted you, we treated you as our brother. Why did you do this?" Adrian said weakly, his voice laced with hurt.

Bryan was our most trusted brother, family to us, and what he had done today left me and my friends devastated.

"The rat!" Blake yelled, pointing at Bryan, while Blue remained calm.

"Why?" Bryan laughed evilly. This was the first time I had seen Bryan looking cruel, for all I had seen before was a pure, innocent man. "I'm really into your mission, Xen. My goal was to kill Marco... until the day that you, you, you, and the rest of your group..." He angrily pointed at each of us and continued, "killed my brother." His voice suddenly turned dark.

"B-brother?"

"I thought your brother was long gone..?" I asked, utterly confused.

"I thought he was! But Marco did not kill him; he even took care of my brother. I should be thankful to Marco, but instead, I betrayed him because of my misguided beliefs. This is the only way I can repay him... to avenge my brother's death." His voice sounded determined, as if his mind had been poisoned and consumed by Marco.

"Killed? We didn't even know your brother, so how could we kill him?" Lucas asked in obvious wonder.

"He was working for Marco. I've been looking for my brother for so long, and you knew that. Every day, I mourned his death. I didn't know that the person I've been with... my best friend was... my long-lost brother. Denn." His eyes were longing... longing for—wait, what!?

Denn. And then my mind processed: every piece had been sewn together completely. The guy that Marco used to track us... the guy who wished to die for his brother's life... the guy who was killed by... Martin. Everything was just a fucking setup!!

"Oh, I think someone remembered my brother," Bryan suddenly said, turning towards me.

"I did not kill your brother, but... that day, he wished to die... he wanted us to kill him," I told him the truth.

He laughed harshly, "You're really good at lying." Suddenly his face hardened. "Do you expect me to believe that!?"

"Xenon is telling the truth. We were there. He begged us to kill him, or else Marco would kill his brother—which is you, because at that time, he failed; he didn't want to die in Marco's hands, nor be the cause of his brother's death," Lucas pleaded for him to believe.

"So, you killed him!?" Bryan's voice was dark. "My brother would not have killed himself either; he knew I was alive, and he would have looked for me!" Bryan started pacing in front of us like a madman.

"Before Denn died, he wanted to relay a message for you," I stated, which made him stop.

"What message?" he asked.

"He said... he loves his brother so much," I conveyed Denn's message.

"F*ck it! If my brother loved me, he wouldn't have died; he would have fought! You must have killed him!" He raised his gun and pointed it at my head.

"No, Bryan. Don't do that, please..." Adrian pleaded.

"Xenon did not kill him—" Lucas began, but was cut off.

"If he didn't, then who!? With the fact that you took him, you were the last people there when he died!" His voice was filled with anger. "He's the only family I have left... but you took him away from me!" Just then, a tear fell from his eye, though anger dominated it.

I gave Lucas a look that meant not to tell Bryan, or Martin would be in great danger, and he immediately understood, looking down in defeat.

"There's no other choice—" Lucas murmured, but he was interrupted.

"Shut the f*ck up, Lucas, or I'll kill you first!" Bryan yelled in intense anger. "No one can save you now. You'll all die; even your lovely Uno can't save you." He smirked. "She is nothing against her greatest rival; the great warrior will be facing her death. So, shut the f*ck up."

"Kill me then, if that will soothe you." I grabbed his attention, challenging him.

I didn't want my friends to die because of my stupidity.

"Oh, I will. Send my regards to hell." Bryan smirked and touched the trigger of his gun.

I thought this was the end of my story... "I'm sorry, Claire... I'm so sorry, my angel."

Bang!

"No!"

*****

Blue's POV

The atmosphere was thick with tension as our allies confronted Bryan, the reality of his betrayal looming over us. They keep on ranting while I was guarding the time. 9 pm, Claire should be here any minute... she's our only hope, when I was dragged on the way here, I saw the number of Marco's people doubled the number when we came here to attack.

Everything was just a setup.

"Kill me then. If that will soothe you," Xenon challenged Bryan, his defiance shining through the fear.

From the very beginning, I sensed something was off about Bryan. His unease during our meetings, the way he’d look away when we discussed our plans... it all made sense now.

"Oh, I will. Send my regards to hell," Bryan retorted, an unsettling smirk twisting his lips. He caressed the trigger of his gun as my heart hammering in my chest.

I am afraid that this will also be the end of our group... I am afraid that this will be our last mission. No, oh please Claire...

Suddenly, a figure stepped into the doorway, and relief washed over me. Perfect timing! But then, the sight froze me in place.

*Bang!*

"No!" I heard someone shouted, but it was too late.

"F*ck!" I cursed, realizing I was witnessing something far worse than I could have imagined.

I just saw... the Silencer.