Oh, how amazing it was to breath real air. Purgatory's constant scent of death was sickening, and it gets to you if you're there for long enough. The fresh air wasn't just any old oxygen, we were at Athens' highest peak. The best air one can get.
"So happy we're out of there." Jade chuckled.
Marcus scoffed humorously.
"Thought you liked the whole 'graveyard' vibe." Marcus looked at Jade.
Jade's usual reaction of frustration at Marcus' humor went amiss, a smile taking place in its stead.. Arcadia was silent, and didn't seem to be affected at all by anything going on. I took notice and spoke.
"Arcadia?" I prompted.
Arcadia was still silent. Marcus raised his eyebrows, curled his lip downwards and shrugged. I walked up to Arcadia to check up on her. Before I even spoke, she had given me an answer to the question in my head.
"I'm fine, before you ask." Arcadia raised her hands in defense.
I exchanged a glance with Marcus. The gleam in his eyes communicated understanding, and started walking away with Jade to let me talk to Arcadia. They soon got into the car, giving me opportunity to speak.
"First of all, both you and I know that's bullshit. Second of all, Jade's alive and well! I don't know what you're upset about-"
"Just who the fuck are you?!" Arcadia shouted, tearing up at the eyes.
The yell echoed across the mountain tops, seemingly silencing everything around us.
"You're going to pretend that nothing I said has weighed on you?" Arcadia stuttered.
Her eyes teared up as she looked into mine. I could feel shackles wrap around my heart, weighing it down.
"Of course it has-"
"You'd kill people for cash for a living. Target's deaths don't weigh on you, because it benefited you. In fact, I don't think you take responsibility for anything." Arcadia's voice grew more into a sob as she spoke.
"I'm not the same person anymore--"
"Then fucking prove it! I don't know who you are at all, for what it's worth." Arcadia shouted.
"Karta, you may remember your past now, but you can't tell us you're a completely different person." Marcus muttered, in an uncharacteristically quiet tone.
"At the last second, when we need you most, how do we know you're not going to abandon us forever? When Cerberus was on the ground, and if someone paid you to kill him, would you do it?" Arcadia sorrowed.
"No."
"DON'T! Do not lie to me! Would you do it?"
I bit my tongue.
"...Yes."
Arcadia's eyes squirmed, tears now flooding from her sockets. She walked slowly up to me, and looked at me dead in the eyes.
Oh god, her eyes. I've seen into Malik's, and many other beasts. None felt as cold as the stare Arcadia impaled me with.
She curled her fingers in her right hand, and hooked me in the face. My jaw swung to my right shoulder, the rest of my face following behind it. Arcadia wasn't the most physically strong person, but that was one of the most painful blows that someone has ever landed on me.
"I'm going to get in that car, and you're going to find your own way somewhere else." Arcadia slowly stepped backwards, as if she feared the thing she was facing.
YOU ARE READING
Karta Stryker
AcciónHope. Revolution. Words Karta would not previously embrace, but would soon have no other choice but become the very face of these things. His childhood scattered by memories of running away, being hunted down, but Karta doesn't remember anything bef...
