Fallen (MCSM Fanfic)

Chapter 17: The Coming Battle

"Come on Petra." Lukas said softly, putting a hand on the unconscious redhead's shoulder. "Don't give up yet."

Petra didn't do as much as stir at his touch or words. She remained perfectly still, not flinching a muscle. If it wasn't the faint rise and fall of her chest, Lukas would have thought she was dead.

Reuben whimpered as well, nudging her cheek with his snout. Not getting a response, the small pig curled up against Petra, nuzzling into her side as he whined in heartbreak.

Lukas felt a pang of sadness at the sight, remembering that Reuben had done the exact same thing, moments after Jesse took her last breath.

He carefully checked Petra's pulse again, a steady yet weak beat. Opening his mouth, Lukas was about to say a few more words of encouragement.

"You're wasting your breath."

He glared up at Olivia who had spoken. She was leaning with one shoulder against the cave wall, smirking slightly as she looked down at the them.

"She's held on for much longer than anybody expected." She went on. "About damn time."

"Is it that hard for you to just shut up?" Lukas asked through gritted teeth, glaring daggers at the engineer.

"Aw, having trouble accepting the truth?" Axel taunted, a grin forming on his lips.

"Could you two shut it already?"

Everybody's heads snapped to the side at the raspy voice that had suddenly spoken up. Jesse was looking up at them from the ground with what was probably meant to be an attempt at a glare.

"Don't be like that now." Axel complained pouting.

"Yeah, since when are you on his side?" Olivia added, pointing a finger at Lukas.

"I'm not on his side, I'd just appreciate some quiet already." Jesse sneered, her weak voice crackling away on the last word.

"How long are you planning to keep up this façade?" Lukas all of a sudden snapped, getting up to his feet. He glared down at Jesse. "You know very well that everything Petra said was true!"

It was deathly quiet in the cave. Their fighting had long since chased off the members of the Order, who had left the cave while silently deciding among themselves that they'd find a new way to take down the storm by themselves.

Jesse began opening her mouth.

"And don't even think about lying again." Lukas said in a low voice.

Jesse's eyes narrowed even more. But then, to the others' surprise, she placed the arm that wasn't broken beneath her, struggling up on it until she was half sitting, most of her weight supported by the wall behind her.

"As much as I hate to admit it, I've failed." The fierceness in her voice was gone, now only sounding broken. "If I couldn't even set off that bomb, then..." She stopped herself, shaking her head. "Then...

I give up.

Petra was right. I'm not cut out to be a hero, I'm not cut out to be... to be Jesse."

Everybody were speechless. Lukas had not expected Jesse- or Aiden, to admit the truth so easily. Then again, the formidi-bomb's damage probably lend a helping hand.

"I don't even care what happens now. All I want is to get back into my own damn body, get rid of the cursed length of these short arms and be able to move my head without a mob of hair going everywhere."

"Oh with you on that one, I can't wait to look like a decent human being again." Olivia- who Lukas supposed was actually Maya – said, looking down at the clothes she was wearing in disgust.