The third Planet

25. Hatred

Lennart's POV

"She's coming" I chuckled.

"How naive she is... I knew she was but I didn't think she was stupid" Daphne whispered in my ear. Her hands wandered over my chest, absent minded and fully into her thoughts.

"Are we prepared?"

"Of course."

I felt them getting excited. It took so long to come to this point.

Innocence is coming. Get ready for her. If a mistake will happen, it would be your head that's rolling.

*****
Claire's POV

"We should look for a place to sleep."

"Niklas, there's no damn time for sleeping! They are bloody dying! Tell me what don't you understand?"

The lack of sleep, food and actually peace was getting on my nerves and making me insufferable. I knew I behaved mean and unfair. Ana was constantly on my mind. My soldiers were on my mind. And the war.

"Claire, if you won't rest, you make more damage than if you do. Believe me. Your body needs it. You're not Ana or like her. Your body needs it and you to care for it."

I nodded, still angry. Still thinking there were better things to do.

Niklas pointed at a tree group, walked over and sat down. He motioned us to get over. Eventually he pulled two stones out of his pocket and started making a fire onto the dry leaves.

As soon as I got down on the ground I felt my numb limbs again. My muscles protested in pain and the headache increased. I felt incredibly tired.

"Claire, let me help you out of the armour, lil goddess" Tim said low. I shook my head. Maybe it would held me warm...

"You'll freeze" he said. I shook my head again. "What if anything will come and I'm not protected?"

He finally nodded.

"Okay."

Niklas was silent. He just sat on the ground and watched us.

I laid down, shoving my arm under my head and pulling my knees up to me till I looked like a big foetus. I closed my eyes, but even after eternities I couldn't find sleep.

On and on I heard their creatures come, grabbing after me. I heard screams and steps coming near.

"You think she'll make it?" It was Niklas voice speaking.

"I hope so. She's strong."

"Yea" he chuckled. "But I think not strong enough. She's fragile, a princess but no soldier. She isn't cold like the gods. She has feelings, she doesn't pretend. She doesn't lie."

A longer silence followed only interrupted by the wind and water.

"She's pretty" Niklas started again. "How could you let Ana have Claire? Like you hear you had enough chances, Tim."

"It didn't seem right. I don't wanna push-"

"Oh, you're that kind. Whenever I look at her delicate fingers I can feel them roaming over me. It would be so easy to grab her and just take what I want. Guess, Claire wouldn't resist anyway. Well... You don't have much longer. Now or never, 'cause if we'll stop them she has to die, you know. The greater good."

His voice dripping with arrogance. My body was shaking in disgust. How could he? But I was remaining silent.

"That's not ...right. How could you possibly break a human in such a way?" Tim sounded like he couldn't quite grasp what he had heard. "And I fought on your side" he closed.

"Oh Tim, your so in love with her" Niklas laughed. "Take advantage of people as long as you can. Just like I did with Ana."

"It doesn't change anything" Tim sounded sad and just tired; "that I love her, I-"

"There is somebody listen" Niklas laughed as he saw how my eyes shot open at Tim's words. I jumped on my feet.

"Tim?" I asked. I stared directly in his eyes.

"It was so obvious, lil goddess. Everyone saw, only you were so oblivious."

"And yet you brang me here." My voice was barely a whisper but he still understood.

"And you!" I screamed, my voice shaking like my body, now in utter disgust. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?"

"Nothing she didn't want me to" Niklas said smugly. The hand on the grip of my sword shook at his words. Anger and hatred was boiling inside of me.

"What did you fucking idiot do?" I screamed at him.

He was still laughing, going insane. Not only him but also me. He touched her. He took advantage of her while she was whatever has happened to Ana back then.

Suddenly I snapped. My sword was faster at his throat than any of us could have looked. I hissed through gritted teeth. "Who do you think you are? A god? I have to disappoint you then. You're nothing. Worthless. Little boys get hurt. And you are just another" I spitted. I pushed the blade a lil closer to him.

As blood started to drip from his throat he stopped laughing.

"Claire, stop this" Tim said, gripping my arm, trying to drag me away from Niklas. "We need him. Did you forget them?"

"I'll find them alone" I replyed, without my eyes leaving the manic in front of me. 

"Claire, you can't go alone. You need someone to have your back."

"Then come with me."

He watched me then nodded. "I'll follow you."

"You're so love strucked, Tim. Admit it, you only go, because you hope she'll fall for you! And yet you know, she won't. You're weaker than I thought. She's right in front of you and yet you watch how she hurts you. You came in while she made out with Ana and still you hope and hope. Tim, you're- "

"ENOUGH! I've got enough of you. Give me one reason to not cut your head of!"

I was changing again. Niklas let something go inside of me. He let me snap and let something rolling.

"Not!" Tim yelled at me in the very same moment Niklas said: "I've got none. Kill me!" Pure hatred, disgust and challenge was written in his eyes. "I don't believe you could."

I put my sword down. He was right, I couldn't.

"Let's go" I whispered.

I took Tim's hand in mine. He was cold.

"Hate can pierce everything, lil goddess. Neither armour nor other people are enough. Maybe not even love" Tim murmured in my ear. He shoved his fingers between mine. I wasn't quite sure if this was a good idea.

I heard Niklas laugh five meter behind us. I stared straight ahead, trying to calm me down. 

With only one long scream I turned around. My eyes got darker. MY legs scooted forward right towards Niklas. My sword still in my hand I hold it.

It pierced through his skin so easily. It was too easy.

Blood floated over his bottom lip. The surprise was the last expression on his face, before he fell to the ground, dead.