REVENGE (2nd book of FEAR)

- chapter twenty one -

"Please, sweetheart," Locus pleaded, "Drink." He held a cup of water up to the little girl's lips, the dirt and grime swirling around and settling at the bottom rim. Bella refused, "No!" She shook her head, her voice fragile and hoarse, "Gross."

"I don't care," he growled, "Drink it." Bella turned her face away from the glass, shoving his hand away, "No!" The cup went flying towards Locus, his shirt becoming soaked with the murky water.

Bella gasped, and Locus wiped the polluted drink from his eyes. "I'm sorry," her face suddenly crumbled, tears pouring out of her eyes like a waterfall. The soldier was almost too shocked to move when she leaped forward and hugged him tightly.

"I'm not mad, kid," he stroked her crusty and matted hair with his hand, "I just want you to be okay." Bella nodded eagerly into his shoulder, her weak sobs vibrating through her body.

It was the fourth time this week that she had broken down like this. The sickness was causing her brain to spiral out of control. She wasn't herself. The little girl rarely ate or drank and didn't have the same happiness that she use to. He couldn't blame her.

"We're gonna help you through this, alright?" Locus pulled away from her and raised his eyebrows, "We're gonna help everyone." Bella narrowed her eyes into slits, "We?" The mercenary hesitated for a moment, biting his bottom lip, "Liz and I."

The little girl pushed away from him, a groan of anger escaping her lips. "What is your problem with her?" Locus stood up, suddenly full of rage. Bella scowled up at him with a glare that could cut someone.

"Whatever," the soldier scoffed, flicking his wrist at the girl before turning around to leave the tent. When he began to step out, Bella shouted, "She killed them!" Locus froze. His breath caught in his throat and his blood stopped in his veins.

"She... She..." Bella began to cry for the second time, but this time was different. She was gasping for air in-between sobs, and her arms wrapped around herself protectively.

"She killed my parents."

***

"Locus?" Liz stood up from her bed as soon as the soldier barreled into her tent. His nostrils flared as his breathing pulsated through him with anger. "Is everything okay?" Her eyes filled with worry after she noticed his rage.

He was silent, his hands clenching and unclenching into fists. His nails dug into the skin of his palm and created deep, bloody marks. "Sam?" Liz took a step forward, reaching out for his hand slowly.

Suddenly, Locus snatched her arm by the elbow and dug his fingers into her skin. She yelped out in pain, trying desperately to yank away from him. "Locus, what the hell is the matter with you?!" She spat. "You killed them," he snapped, and her eyebrows crinkled in confusion, "Who?!"

"Bella's parents!" He screamed, the rage beginning to fog his mind. He blinked a couple of times, trying to get the red in his eyes to go away. Liz's eyes filled with horror, "What are you talking about?!" Locus threw her to the ground, "For how much?!"

Liz began to crawl away from him, "Locus, please!" The man marched towards her menacingly. "For how much?!" He ordered once more, bending down to be an inch away from her face. She didn't respond, her bottom lip quivering.

"Come on, hun. Was it more or less than me? Everybody has their price, right?" He sneered, his voice cold and filled with venom. Liz's open hand cracked across his face, snapping it to the left with the force of her hit. Tears pooled onto her cheeks.

"You haven't changed at all," Locus spat, storming out of the tent. Liz curled her legs toward her chest, wrapping her arms around herself. She let a sob escape her throat, pressing her face into her scratched arms.

"But, I have..."

ohhh shit. we are very close to the end of this book... so, we finally found out why bella hates liz. why did she do it? what's locus gonna do next? is their relationship over? find out next chapter.