The Broken

10 - On Second Thought

We both stared at each other. Her iris was of a blood red hue. Like my false contacts that I used to use, except, these ones weren’t contacts. “It’s you…” I said. “It’s… you!” I repeated, with rage. I tightened my grip on my knife.

“Easy…” she said, slowly. “Think about this,” I listened. “If you kill me, it’s over. You’ll die. If you let me live, you can be reunited into the life you’ve always wanted…”

I thought for a long moment. “This is the life I want. I’m not turning back.”

“I’m your best friend… how could you betray me like this? We can fight together…”

I bit my tongue. “Wrong. I don’t need you. The Broken needs me. And I won’t fall into that.” I grimaced and thrusted the knife right down on her neck. She stared at me lifelessly and grinned. I threw her down. She was dead… but she disappeared. All that was left was the black cloak. I was confused.

“Well done,” someone behind me said. I looked over at them. They were dressed in red. “You didn’t fall for the false image. We could use someone like you… too bad I have to put you back in your place,” The red figure quickly threw a flaming knife at me. “Plenty more where that came from!
I was using my agility skills bestowed upon me by the Tempus gift. I was getting very tired, dodging every weapon this person threw at me.

“T-That’s all ya’ got?” I said. The red figure ran toward me and tripped me. I was too weak to stand. The figure drew a gun and pointed it at me.
“It’s the end for you!” they shouted. I closed my eyes and heard a loud gunshot. I felt no pain. After a few seconds, I opened my eyes. It was Korah. She shot the figure.

“Korah!” I ran over to her and hugged her.

“You did it, kid…” she pulled me closer.

I sniffled. “I guess I did… I did.”

I embraced Korah for a long while, then I felt cold. My body felt weak and drained for a short period of time. Korah looked very worried and pulled away, then grabbed my hand and looked at me for a few long seconds.

“Oh God…” she said.

“What?” I asked, in fear.

“The curse,” Korah continued, “The Tempus Curse of Love… It’s killing you.”

I went cold with fear and blacked out.

----

I woke up later in my room, the lights were out. I reached over to my left to turn on my lamp. The digital clock on my nightstand read 2 a.m. I walked out of my room into the main part of the hideout. Thankfully, the lights were on and I could see. I looked around for a few moments then decided to see Korah. I went up to her room; the door was open already. Joseph was awake, sitting at his desk writing on a piece of paper. He looked at me.

“Yes?” Joseph said, seriously.

“Where did Korah go?” I asked.

“Don’t you remember? She’s locked upstairs, or she’ll kill us all.”

I quickly thought back to the point where Korah told me about ‘the bad side of her.’ I went to go upstairs to her cell, but I stopped in the doorway as Joseph stopped to speak to me.

“No. I know you’re worried about her as well as yourself, but you don’t need to go up there,”

I proceeded to leave the room.

“I’m serious.” Joseph stared me down for a few seconds and continued to scribble his pen across his paper.

“Why is she so dedicated to keeping me safe?” I asked. “I’m going to die. There’s no way I can get someone to love me before the month ends. I have two days. What do I do? Why does she care so much about me? I’m just a spoiled little girl who ran away from her parents because I didn’t get what I wanted. Why can’t I just die? Why can’t my friends just be truthful and accept me for who I am? Why did they have to betray me? Why did you have to kill my best friend? Why is all of this happening? Just end my life, Joseph. Grab your gun and kill me. Just do it-”

“Shut up, Ellie! You’re not who you think you are. You’re a gifted girl, you’re worth every second. Korah cares about you so much because she knew you were in danger from day one. She’s the closest friend you have. Your ‘best friend’ was another runaway – except, she’s exactly how you described. Spoiled. Thinks she’s the best. She’s a Malus. So are all the others of that stupid little gang,” Joseph continued to look at me.

“A Malus?” I asked.

“Yes. Our enemy. They have the ability to manipulate you and think they’re someone else. They’re mischievous,”
I nodded my head and slowly began to leave the room.

“On second thought, go see Korah. Just don’t open the cell.” Joseph smiled. He rarely does that, which means I knew he was serious. I rushed upstairs to the cell room.