Arachna

Chapter 32: Sadness, Sacrifice, and So Much Death

Derek defended against blow after blow, but he couldn't bring himself to fight back. Rob's attacks were unflinching.

A kick sent Derek to the stairwell. He gripped the metal railing, nearly flying over the stairs. His legs weak, his heart pounding, Derek rolled away from the stairwell, narrowly dodging another kick. Before he could recover, Rob swept Derek's legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground.

Derek held his hand out as Rob made to throw another punch. "Wait... wait." He just needed a moment, a single moment to catch his breath.

As Derek sucked down air, sweat dripping down his face, Rob cocked his head to the side.

"This... isn't you." Nausea roiled in Derek's stomach, and his chest ached as he rolled onto his hands and knees, his lungs begging for more air.

Rob reached into his back pocket and removed a syringe. Its plastic cover rolled across the floor. He lunged, tackling Derek to the ground, and plunged the syringe downward.

Derek blocked his arm, the needle an inch away from piercing his skin. He held strong at first, but Rob was overpowering him. Exhaustion weakened his arms, his body forcing air down his throat. The needle closed in on his neck.

"No," Derek pleaded. "No, I can't turn into one of these things." He sent his knee into Rob's stomach and threw all his weight into a punch to his face.

Rob staggered back, cradling his bleeding nose. The syringe fell from his hand.

Derek clambered for it. Rob dove for him, and Derek kicked him away, grabbing the plastic cover.

He covered the syringe and pocketed it, watching Rob carefully as he stood back up.

Derek spat blood onto the floor. Rob didn't give it a second glance. Derek couldn't bring himself to hurt him. Caleb knew Derek wouldn't be able to fight his own friend. Bastard.

Derek pointed at the blood on the floor. "You see that?"

Rob still didn't look.

"That was once yours. It's not too late. I know you didn't want this."

Rob made to attack again then stopped. He dropped to one knee and groaned, his hand on his head. It lasted for a second before he shook it off and looked at Derek. His eyes watered.

"I... Derek?"

Derek gulped. If this is a trick... "Rob... you okay?"

Rob shook his head—not a no but a motion to get something out. Like a bad thought he was trying to avoid. "What am I doing?"

Derek gawked as Rob stared at the ground, his face twisted in confusion. He stared for the longest time, and Derek waited for the trap, waited for Rob to charge again. But when he met Derek's stare, his eyes lit up.

Derek charged him, not to attack, but to wrap him in an embrace.

Rob choked on his words as he said, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"It's okay," Derek said. "I'm sorry I let them take you." He let the tears flow down his cheeks. It felt good to cry, not in mourning this time, but in happiness.

Rob was alive—alive and, for whatever reason, back to his old self.

When they separated, Derek laughed, wiping his cheeks. "I can't believe that worked."

A voice rang out from the stairs above. "It didn't."

Derek's smile shattered when he found the source of the voice. Kaela descended the stairs, her glowing purple veins and eyes flashing for a moment before she extended her arm and Rob flew back into the wall.