A Shadow's Light

Rogue? Is that you?

The sun began to disappear beyond the horizon, as dusk had finally rached it peak. Sting sighed, looking down before looking at his companion, that stood at his feet awaiting to start their ' game '. He mumbled softly under his breath, then walking forwards with a new type of confidence.

" So... Sting-kun? What do we do? " Lector whispered. Sting remained in silence for about two minutes, before finally speaking again. " There's no one here. It's a ghost town, it's like it was abandoned.. " Sting stopped suddenly, silence took over, you could hear a pin drop.

" Abandoned.. " He repeated, lifting the book up and flicking to the enchantments. Sting fell into a deep thought, the expression on his face gave it away, how much he was concerntrating. " Sting-kun..? " Lector whispered again.

" We're up to line two, verse one.. " Sting answered swiftly. 

" Uhh.. "

" Fear and pain to one's delight, Remember? "

" Sting-kun.. I don't understand.. "

Sting sighed, crouching down, looking into the eyes of the young exceed. His red fur drifted in the breeze, as Sting softly questioned him.

" Lector, You trust me, right? "

" Of course I do, Sting-kun! "

" Then tell me. What did you say your worst fear was? "

" .. I didn't want you to leave me all alone. "

Sting smiled gently, before tapping the side of Lector's shoulder and spinning him around to look at their surroundings. " We are alone.. " Sting whispered into his ear.

Lector quickly turned around with tears in the corner of his eyes, grabbing onto his shirt and tugging at it to pull him closer. Sting lifted his hand to the back of Lector's head, pushing him softly into his shirt. He smiled as Lector looked up, wiping away his tears. 

" For you, Sting-kun. I'm going to be strong, for you! " Lector exclaimed with pride. Sting chortled a small laugh before picking him up. He rested him on his shoulder, as Lector sat down, gripping the shirt that was between his legs.

After a few minutes of silence, Lector spoke up. " Sting-kun? " 

" Yes? "

" So what do you mean by second line, first verse? "

Sting cackled, a little taken back his friend hadn't figured it out yet. " As we speak, we're playing the game. Thy soul that dwells within' thy night.. It most likely referred to Rogue. "

" Because Rogue-kun likes to spend time night than at day! Right, Sting-kun? "

" Yes. You said your fear was you didn't want to be seperated from me, right? That must be Fear and pain to one's delight. So in short-- "

Sting was cut off by a voice, not really cut off, more of... the sentence was finished.

" In short, there's another addition to the fun. You have the fear, I have the delight. This game is called Predator and Prey.. "

Sting looked up with a growl, Lector holding onto his hair tightly, as they looked around for the figure. Lector hesitantly pointed to a form within' the shadows, at the front of an alleyway. The form was sleek, with a suit and red tie. But the face..? The face was hidden amongst the darkness.

" You are the prey.. and I? I am the predator. "

With that, the form vanished. Sting narrowed his eyes before dashing the other way, with Lector clutching desperately to his shoulder. He murmured under his breath, cursing quickly while he ran the other way, not daring to look back.

It wasn't hard to miss it, the terrifying laugh of both mockery, and what it sounded like, pure evil. It rang in their ears, piercing, sharp, and exhausting. But Sting ran anyway. It wasn't like him. A Sabertooth member? Running? Master would never let him hear the end of it.

It's been about ten minutes since Sting started running, but yet it felt like forever. His legs began to tire and he felt as if he were to black out at any given moment.

" Sting-kun.. you're just no fun! " Mocked a voice from behind. Sting fell to his knees, breathing heavily, slowly turning around to face the form. His eyes widened at the sight, his breath hitched, and his heart.. felt like it just shattered in a million pieces.

" .. Rogue? " Sting managed to croak out. Rogue stood there with a murderous grin on his face, blood smeared over the left side of his forehead, while his hands were engulfed in a red hue. He snickered softly, glaring down at Sting, whom had caught some of his breath back.

Frosch stood by his side, but instead of being innocent-minded, Fro was replaced with a killer. Lector stared down, holding back the tears, as he watched his long lost friend, secretly plot his demise.

" Rogue! Snap out of it! " Sting pleaded, yet Rogue stared down, unfazed. His eyes just continued to glow a crimson red, releasing yet another malicious laugh, this time more deep and low-pitched.

" If you want to survive this game.. " He began, raising his left hand, which he tightly clutched a sharp knife. " .. You need to survive me first. "

" Wait! Rogue! What is going on with you? " Sting retaliated, he could feel his heart ache, knowing he could break down at any moment. Pathetic, for a Sabertooth. " Why are you acting like this, Rogue-kun?! " Lector joined in on the lecture.

" Why you ask? " Rogue whispered darkly. " Because.. "

" .. Rogue and Fro do not like you. " Frosch finished.

Then envy arose to thy light.

Sting stood up, realizing he had caught his breath again. His body began to tremble while he eyes widened with terror. Quickly, he turned and ran, clenching his jaws. There were so many emotions he was feeling, he couldn't even choose one.

Anger, sadness, confusion. It just didn't make sense. They've spent all these years together. But Rogue never showed any signs of being jealous. He never took interest in anyone besides Gajeel. Right? He didn't care about anyone.

Or was it an act?

Lector broke his train of thoughts, by screaming into his ear with a piercing shriek. " He's gaining on us! " Sting looked back to see a shadow quickly on their heels, yet Frosch was no where to be seen. This isn't real. This isn't our Rogue.

Sting was so lost in his panic, his thoughts of despair, he completely lost sight of the shadow. That was, until it arose from in front, and attaching itself to his feet. Sting tripped, face planting into the ground in front of him with an ' oof '.

The shadow began to slash at Sting's arms, slicing the flesh, watching as the blood seeped out of his wounds. Sting screamed in pain, finding himself unable to fight back, crawling backwards away from it.

" Rogue-kun! Please! Stop! " Lector ran towards Sting, only to be stopped by Frosch. " Fro does not allow interferences. " Frosch pulled out a small pocket knife, but before Lector could react, Frosch stabbed him. Lector fell to his knees, coughing and choking out blood.

But as he looked up to reason with his best friend, he saw that the Frosch he once knew, was no more.

As Sting turned around to look him in the eyes, he stared up as the shadow formed back into Rogue, who cackled evilly at him, possessing a dark aura. Rogue leaned down and licked his lips, raising his blade towards Sting, rasply whispering into his ear.

" Until thy one was out of sight.. "